Contact: Patricia Viets FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOAA/NESDIS; 301-457-5005 6/11/95
Stephanie Kenitzer
NOAA/NWS; 301-713-0622
The nation's first in a series of five advanced environmental satellites has been declared operational, providing data for improved weather forecasting, the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced today.
The satellite, GOES-8, was launched on April 13, 1994, from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla. After engineering testing, it entered an operational demonstration phase, in which it clearly demonstrated and proved its capabilities. The simultaneous images and atmospheric soundings are unprecedented.
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) are a mainstay of weather forecasting; their images of clouds above the Earth are well-known to viewers who watch daily weather forecasts on television. The design of the new satellite allows its sensors to continuously observe the Earth and thus provide more frequent views of weather systems than ever before.
"This is a major milestone for NOAA," said Gary Davis, director of satellite operations. "We can now provide NOAA's data users with the best images and soundings ever."
NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) is pleased with the progress made with the operational checkout of the spacecraft. Many of the initial products and services are being used in the NWS operational environment. Other products are being readied for operational use. One early benefit is the 15-minute repeat cycle of the GOES-8 imager over the United States and coastal regions. The NWS is looking forward to realizing the full benefit of the satellite for the improvement of warnings and forecasts, made possible by the simultaneous imager and sounder capability and the new, enhanced products as they are delivered to NWS offices.
With the commissioning of this satellite and the launch of GOES-9 last month, one of the most essential elements of NWS's modernization program is in place. The data gathered by the GOES satellites, combined with data from the new Doppler radars and the automated surface observing system, will greatly aid forecasters in providing better advance warnings of thunderstorms, flash floods, hurricanes, winter storms and other severe weather -- which will save lives, preserve property, and benefit agriculture, marine, aviation, and commercial interests across the country.
GOES-8 is currently positioned at 75 degrees west longitude, overlooking the East Coast of North and South America and well out into the Atlantic Ocean. GOES-7, launched in February 1987, is located at 135 degrees west longitude, overlooking the West Coast of the United States, the Pacific Ocean and Alaska.
The newest GOES satellite, GOES-9, was launched May 23, 1995, and is currently positioned at 90 degrees west longitude, where it is being activated and checked out. GOES satellites are operated by controllers at NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service in Suitland, Md.