The GOES satellites, which are positioned in geosynchronous orbit 22,236 miles above the Earth’s equator, are a vital component of NOAA’s weather forecasting capabilities. They provide advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements of the Western Hemisphere, real-time mapping of lightning activity, and monitoring of solar activity and space weather.

Each GOES satellite flies two primary payload instruments, the Imager and the Sounder. The Imager is a multichannel sensor that senses the visible and infrared radiation that is reflected from Earth’s surface and cloud tops. The data are then used to create an image of Earth.

Using the Imager, meteorologists can detect storms and monitor their development. They can also identify the type of clouds and track them, which helps forecasters get warnings about severe weather like tornadoes and hurricanes.

The Sounder uses a number of infrared channels to measure the temperature of the atmosphere. It can detect the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, and it can measure vertical wind speeds. The Sounder can even detect clouds, snow, and ice that may be in the area.

Another important function of the Sounder is its ability to detect the presence of ozone in the atmosphere. Ozone is a toxic gas that can damage the health of humans and animals. It is essential that we know if ozone levels are high so that we can take precautions to protect our health.

Aside from detecting environmental threats, the GOES Imager can also produce beautiful images of our planet. The satellites can capture both natural and man-made scenes, such as a beautiful view of Earth at night or the stunning beauty of an active volcano.

These images are not only used for public consumption; they play a key role in NOAA’s weather forecasting. For example, GOES satellites can be a lifesaver for pilots by showing them whether it is safe to fly through volcanic ash clouds.

Getting these amazing images requires a lot of hard work and dedication. GOES satellites are very large, so it is no small feat to ship one. The team at Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colorado, carefully packed GOES-T into a special shipping container that protected the satellite and functioned as a miniature clean room during transportation.

Once GOES-T was ready to be launched, it hitched a ride aboard a Boeing C-5 Galaxy military aircraft to Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, Colorado, where it was loaded into a NASA C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane for its journey to Kennedy Space Center. It was then a matter of waiting for the right conditions to launch it into space! The GOES-T spacecraft was designed, developed and manufactured by NOAA with the assistance of NASA. Once it is in geosynchronous orbit, NOAA assumes responsibility for it. The procurement, design and manufacture of future GOES satellites will be done by NOAA with the help of NASA. The GOES system is supported by a network of more than 100 regional weather centers, including NOAA’s National Weather Service offices and Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers.