The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) system supports weather forecasting, severe storm tracking and meteorology research. NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS) manages the system in orbit. NASA provides spacecraft and instrument design, procurement and launch.

GOES satellites are positioned 22,236 miles above Earth’s surface, in geostationary orbit at speeds matched to the planet’s rotation. They maintain their positions over specific geographic regions, providing continuous monitoring of atmospheric conditions and surface weather, lightning activity and solar activity.

Observing and forecasting the Earth’s atmosphere, land and ocean with GOES requires multiple instruments and sensors. The GOES Imager and Sounder each employ a servo-driven, two-axis gimballed mirror system that operates with a 31 cm Cassegrain telescope to scan the Earth’s surface. These pointing capabilities allow for close-up observations of severe storms, as well as global views of the entire Earth.

Both GOES Imager and Sounder are multi-spectral, with multiple channels to sense the various electromagnetic radiation that radiates from the surface of the Earth. The instrument’s sensors collect the radiated energy to form an image, and the sensor’s output is measured in a variety of ways that provide useful meteorological information.

In addition to the GOES Imager and Sounder, some GOES satellites fly the NOAA Space Environment Monitor (SEM) package, which includes an Energy Particle Sensor, High Energy Proton and Alpha Particle Detector, Magnetometer and a Solar X-Ray Sensor. The SEM package provides Space Weather data on a regular basis to NOAA’s users.

The GOES DCS (Data Collection System) onboard each satellite transmits data to properly equipped ground stations via a series of RF (radio) communication channels. The DCS also processes and stores the data that it receives.

GOES data is available online through NOAA’s NESDIS website. The GOES-R Series satellite’s official website hosts information including a mission status page, a GOES data download portal, a link to the GOES Data Archive and a Frequently Asked Questions.

A wiki page hosted by the GOES RD&C (Research & Development) group at NOAA’s Earth Science Office has links to more detailed documentation of the GOES system. The wiki page also hosts several example images and links to online software tools for processing GOES data. The wiki also serves as a place for the community to discuss issues related to the GOES system. The GOES RD&C team welcomes contributions from the broader GoES user community, whether they are suggestions for software enhancements or ideas for new applications of the GOES system. To contribute to the wiki, contact a member of the RD&C team.