Contact: Patricia Viets FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOAA/NESDIS 5/23/95
301-457-5005
Stephanie Kenitzer
NOAA/NWS
301-713-0622
Allen Kenitzer
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
301-286-2806
George Diller
NASA/Kennedy Space Center
407-867-2468
The United States today entered a new era in weather forecasting with the successful launch of the second state-of-the- art environmental satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Station in Florida, the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced. When this satellite is fully operational, the United Sates will have the most technically advanced weather forecasting ability in the world.
The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, now called GOES-J, will be renamed GOES-9 once achieving final orbit. It will join its twin, GOES-8, in providing more precise and timely weather observation and atmospheric data for weather forecasters across the country.
With the launch of this satellite, one of the most essential elements of NOAA's National Weather Service's modernization program will be 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, and other severe weather -- which will save lives, preserve property, and benefit agriculture, marine, aviation, and commercial interests across the country.
GOES-J and GOES-8 are also equipped with instruments designed to provide real-time measurements of solar activity, the charged particle environment, and the Earth's magnetic field at synchronous orbit. In addition, the satellite can relay distress signals from people, aircraft, or ships to search and rescue ground stations of the Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking system.
The United States operates two environmental satellites in geostationary orbit, one over the East Coast and one over the West Coast. GOES-7, which was launched on Feb. 26, 1987, is currently positioned over the West Coast. It is over the Equator at 135 degrees West longitude at an altitude of 22,239 statute miles. GOES-8, launched in April 1994, is currently overlooking the East Coast. It is positioned at 75 degrees West, and is in an operational demonstration. Once GOES-9 is operational, GOES-7 will be placed in standby mode.
NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service operates the GOES series of satellites. After the satellites complete on-orbit checkout, NOAA assumes responsibility for command and control, data receipt, and product generation and distribution.
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center administers the GOES contract for NASA's Office of Mission to Planet Earth, Washington, D.C., which manages the design, development, and launch of the spacecraft for NOAA. NASA's Lewis Research Center is responsible for the launch services contract with Lockheed Martin. The NASA Kennedy Space Center is responsible for government oversight of launch operations and countdown activities. GOES-J, built by Space Systems/Loral, will be launched on Lockheed Martin Atlas I rocket.
The next three satellites in the GOES series will be launched as required to support NOAA's dual-satellite geostationary observing system.