The GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) series is a key component of the National Weather Service’s weather observation and forecasting system. The GOES program provides a continuous stream of meteorological data that is critical to severe storm tracking, forecasting and research. GOES data can be viewed and downloaded at the NOAA GOES website.

The satellites in the GOES program orbit 22,236 miles above Earth’s surface. They rotate at the same speed as Earth’s rotation and maintain a fixed position over a geographic region. Each GOES satellite is equipped with two instruments: the Imager and the Sounder. The Imager provides visible, infrared, and near-infrared imagery of the Earth. The Sounder provides meteorological data, including temperature and moisture measurements, winds, cloud cover and fog, and surface water observations.

A key feature of the GOES spacecraft is the Data Collection System (DCS). The DCS relays environmental data transmissions from remotely located in-situ, automatic Data Collection Platforms (DCPs) that are within radio view of a GOES satellite. This enables the DCS to monitor a wide range of atmospheric phenomena from a single satellite.

Each GOES satellite has a number of sensors that monitor the atmosphere and the solar environment. In addition to the GOES-2 Imager and Sounder, the GOES-4 and -5 satellites carried the EPS (Energy Particle Sensor), HEPAD (High Energy Proton and Alpha Particle Detector) and SEM (Space Environment Monitor) instrument packages. The GOES-4 and -5 satellites also carried the D4 dome-mounted magnetometer, which measured the magnitude and direction of the ambient magnetic field.

Since the launch of SMS-1 in 1974, GOES has been a core element of NOAA’s weather observation and prediction system. The system uses geosynchronous equatorial satellites to provide a continuous, reliable flow of meteorological data for weather forecasting and severe storm tracking.

GOES satellites monitor about a third of the Earth’s surface at any one time. The GOES East and West satellites track the Atlantic and Pacific ocean basins, respectively.

GOES is the only geostationary weather satellite system operated by NOAA, a part of the US Department of Commerce. The GOES-R (GOES Replacement) program is a collaboration between NOAA and NASA to develop and acquire the next generation of geostationary weather satellites. GOES-R is designed to operate for a period of at least 14 years, and will be a vital component of NOAA’s mission to improve weather forecasting, severe storm tracking and environmental monitoring. It will be equipped with a new Imager and Sounder, which will provide advanced imagery and meteorological data to support weather forecasting, severe storm tracking and environmental research. It will also have a new compact coronagraph which will enhance detection of space weather hazards. GOES-R is currently in development at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. It is expected to be launched in 2024.