The game of go is a complex and challenging strategic board game. The objective is to capture more territory by surrounding and connecting a larger number of empty spaces on the board (called “formations”) than one’s opponent. A player’s strength is measured by the size of his or her groups, which are linked together with lines of occupied spaces called “liberties.” Groups that cannot be captured must defend themselves, and strong positions are often subject to life-and-death struggles.
The GOES program, which began with the launch of SMS-1 in 1974, provides vital meteorological data for forecasting severe weather events and monitoring Earth’s environment. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s GOES system consists of geosynchronous equatorial satellites that operate in the same orbit as the Earth. GOES data are transmitted in real time to NOAA’s National Weather Service and meteorology offices, as well as scientific researchers worldwide.
GOES satellites are designed to provide low-latency, full hemispheric coverage of the continental United States, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the Caribbean Sea, Central America, South America, and Southern Canada. The GOES-R series of geostationary weather satellites is scheduled for launch in April 2024. Aerospace led a first-of-its-kind embedded team in the development, integration, and deployment of the GOES-R systems. Our efforts helped ensure the mission’s success at every stage, from concept to implementation.
As a specialized systems integrator, Aerospace was able to offer unique insight and innovative solutions to NOAA in the areas of architecture, design, and engineering. We were a critical partner in delivering a world-class system on time and within budget.
GOES R provides an enhanced suite of regional environmental imagery and specialized meteorological, climatic, terrestrial, oceanographic and solar-geophysical data to NOAA/NOAA’s National Weather Service and other customers in real time. It will be operated by NOAA for a minimum of 14 years, providing the nation with critical information to support weather monitoring and forecasting as well as severe storm tracking and satellite navigation.
GOES-R is equipped with multiple instruments including a new multispectral imager, a multichannel sounder, and the Space Environment Monitor (SEM) package which includes the Energy Particle Sensor (EPS), High Energy Proton and Alpha Particle Detector (HEPAD), and magnetometer. EPS and HEPAD are functionally identical to those flown on previous GOES satellites. SXI is a complement to the SEM package by providing real-time imaging of the Sun’s explosive atmosphere, allowing NOAA and other space weather forecasters to issue warnings when the solar activity could affect satellites in orbit or on the ground.