GOES is the name of a satellite that provides real-time images of weather and climate conditions. The spacecraft orbits the Earth at a geostationary altitude and continuously observes the continental United States, the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and central and southern Canada. Thanks to its three-axis body-stabilized design, GOES is able to photograph clouds, measure Earth’s surface temperature, and listen for vertical thermal structures. GOES data enable forecasters to make critical decisions for their daily weather forecasts.
The GOES satellites have several instruments that can be used to monitor the climate and weather, including the Advanced Baseline Imager. This instrument is a key component of the GOES series, and has a variety of applications, from weather monitoring to natural hazards such as hurricanes and earthquakes. This new data will provide scientists with a more accurate understanding of the carbon cycle. Until now, scientists have been unable to include this information in climate models.
The GOES satellites orbit the Earth in a geosynchronous orbit. This plane is the perfect location for the satellites to remain stationary in space. The GOES satellites view the Earth in full-disc fashion from more than 22,300 miles above the Earth’s surface. GOES satellites are the most powerful meteorological instruments in the world. A single satellite can observe the Earth for five years. This makes GOES satellites the most effective way to forecast hurricanes and other extreme weather.
The GOES satellite is a vital part of NASA’s weather forecasting efforts. Without the weather satellites, the U.S. government would be blind. It is important to have the necessary tools to forecast storms and track lightning. If the U.S. does not have the GOES satellites, it would not be able to forecast weather. If GOES-U is successful, it will be equipped with additional space weather instruments and a better weather forecasting system.
The GOES-R satellite has overcome many challenges during its development and launch. Scientists discovered a problem with the cooling system during post-launch testing for GOES-17 ABI. The loop heat pipe subsystem that transfers heat from ABI electronics to a radiator doesn’t work as intended. As a result, the ABI detectors cannot maintain the temperature they’re supposed to operate at under specific orbital conditions, resulting in partial loss of infrared imagery.