Resources to educate students, teachers, and the general public about meteorology, space science, earth-observing satellites, weather phenomena and benefits GOES-R will provide to society.
Information and resources to ensure that the user community is prepared for the new types of satellite imagery and data that will be available from the GOES-R satellite series.
The Winter 2012 issue of The Earth Scientist, the quarterly journal of the National Earth Science Teachers Association that provides resources for K-12 Earth and Space Science teachers, features an article on GOES-R and includes a GOES-R satellite poster. You can read the article, “The GOES-R Series: The Nation’s Next-Generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites” online at http://www.nestanet.org/cms/sites/default/files/journal/current.pdf. See page 18 for the piece, which provides an overview of the mission, outlines the benefits the satellites will provide to the nation, and highlights the resources GOES-R provides for fostering education and supporting national Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) efforts.
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Lockheed Martin has delivered the GOES-R satellite core structure for integration of the propulsion system. Press Release
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The GOES-R Proving Ground FY12 Annual Report is now available. Get it here!
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New GOES-R/JPSS ruler bookmarks are available! Download yours!
The GOES-R Program successfully passed the Mission Critical Design Review (MCDR) – Part II on November 9, 2012. The program was rated “Green” for 4 of the 5 MCDR Success Criteria and “Yellow” for MCDR Success Criterion #5 (Adequate Technical and Programmatic Margin) of which the Standing Review Board (SRB) continues to be concerned about the tight development schedule with meeting the GOES-R launch readiness date and concern about the Program’s low financial reserve posture. Despite this, the SRB was extremely pleased with the significant progress the Program has made to date and noted how well the NOAA & NASA partnership is working. Press Release
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The GOES-R Ground Segment Project (GSP) prime contractor, Harris Corporation, completed installation of the Mission Management Prototype (MMP) in the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF). An on-site demonstration was conducted on 9/11/12 and the MMP will be available to the GOES-R Mission Operations Support Team on 9/14/12. On-the-job training will be conducted 9/14-9/21/12.
The GOES-R Ground Segment Project (GSP) successfully completed its Project-level Critical Design Review (CDR) July 24-26, 2012 in Greenbelt, MD. The Independent Integrated Review Team (IIRT) gave the GSP Green ratings in all ten category areas. The GSP received 7 Requests for Action (RFA) and 3 Advisories from the IIRT. In the CDR outbrief package, the IIRT commented on the following strengths demonstrated by the GSP team:
Since the Preliminary Design Review, project leadership in replanning system, creating an executable schedule, and developing incremental test process is exemplary.
Harris and government have formed a strong collaborative team.
GSP has developed a design that meets security requirements.
The design meets the requirement and will fly mission and provide requisite data.
Increment-build-release process well institutionalized.
Good interface with flight team (suitcase simulator, working groups, etc.).
Strong support for external consumers through Integrated Product Teams and working groups.
The Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS), an affiliated development of the GOES-R Ground Segment Project (GSP), successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) of its interface with the Ground Segment on May 31, 2012. Press Release
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Saft has been awarded a contract by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company to provide lithium‐ion (Li‐ion) batteries for the first two Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites‐R series (GOES‐R and GOES‐S). Press Release
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The GOES-R Series Program completed the joint NOAA/NASA Program Management Council (PMC) review for GOES-R Key Decision Point (KDP)-II/C Confirmation Review on May 16, 2012. Based on the review and the program readiness documents, the PMC formally approved the GOES-R Series Program to continue into critical design phase.
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The 2012 NOAA Satellite Science Week was held April 30 - May 4, 2012, in Kansas City, MO. GOES-R Algorithm Working Group (AWG), Proving Ground, and Risk Reduction annual meetings were held there. Agenda | Posters | Presentations
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The Ground Segment Project (GSP) concurred with Antenna System Contractor, Harris Corporation, at the completion of the Pre-Ship Review (PSR) for the shipment of the structural components for Antenna #2 (W-2) to Wallops Command and Data Acquisition Station (WCDAS). Shipment of the structural components for Antenna #2 (W-2) to WCDAS will commence on April 30 and take approximately four days to arrive.
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The Ground Segment Project (GSP) and Core GS prime Contractor, Harris, successfully completed the Core GS CDR in Melbourne, FL April 23-27, 2012.
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The Spacecraft System Critical Design Review (CDR) was held April16-20, 2012 at Lockheed Martin in Littleton, CO. Press Release
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On April 5, 0212, NASA awarded the GOES-R and GOES-S launch contract to United Launch Services, LLC of Edgewood Colorado. News Release
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On April 4, 2012 National Geographic Severe Storm Researcher, Tim Samaras, GOES-R Observatory Manager Paul Richards, and GOES-R Program Scientist Dr. Steve Goodman participated in the Goddard Engage Lunch and Learn Series. The trio explained how GOES-R will support the improvement of weather monitoring and Mr. Samaras explained how he uses GOES data to chase storms. The event took place from 1:30-2:30 pm in the GSFC Building 8 auditorium.
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Harris successfully completed the System Integration Review (SIR) for Wallops Command and Data Acquisition Station (WCDAS) Antenna structures #1 and #2 and the Pre-Ship Review (PSR) for Antenna structure #1 on March 28, 2012. The structure components for the antenna #1 will be shipped by truck from Wortham, TX and are scheduled to arrive at WCDAS April 9-11.
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The GOES-R Proving Ground satellite champion for the National Weather Service (NWS) Aviation Weather Center (AWC) was selected and begins her work as a University of Wisconsin (UW)-Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) research scientist detailed to AWC in mid-April. The satellite champion serves as a subject matter expert for GOES-R aviation products and liaison between the Alogorithm Working Group (AWG) algorithm developers and the forecasters to better enable the evaluation, training, and transition of GOES-R products from research to operations.
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The Ground Segment Project (GSP) and Core GS prime Contractor, Harris Corporation, successfully completed the Core GS Enterprise Management / Infrastructure (EM/IS) Element Critical Design Review (CDR) March 19-23, 2012 in Melbourne, FL. Harris successfully demonstrated that all the entrance and success criteria have been met.
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The GOES-R Antenna System contractor, Harris Corporation, successfully completed the Pre-Ship Review (PSR) for the Antenna System Interface Simulator (ASIS) the week of March 19, 2012. The completion of this milestone is a step in the process leading to Government acceptance of the ASIS and its subsequent transfer to the Core GS as Government-Furnished Property (GFP). Government and Harris contracts personnel have agreed upon the paperwork required to be submitted for the acceptance and sign-off by the NOAA Contracting Officer (CO).
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The Mission Management Element Critical Design Review (CDR) was held March 12-16, 2012 in Melbourne, FL. Harris successfully demonstrated that all the entrance and success criteria have been met.
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The GOES-R Key Decision Point – “C” Confirmation Readiness Review with the GSFC Center Management Council was held on Tuesday, March 13th at Goddard.
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Goddard ENGAGE Lunch and Learn series featuring the GOES-R Mission will take place at 1:30 p.m. in the Building 8 Auditorium at Goddard Space Flight Center on April 4, 2012.
Media Coverage
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The PBS series NOVA aired a special segment on earth-observing satellites on February 13, 2013. This 2-hour special, “Earth From Space,” highlights how data from NASA, NOAA, and other satellites are transforming the way we understand and view our dynamic planet. Produced in extensive consultation with NASA scientists, NOVA takes data from earth-observing satellites and transforms it into dazzling visual sequences, each one exposing the intricate and surprising web of forces that sustains life on earth. Viewers witness how dust blown from the Sahara fertilizes the Amazon; how a vast submarine "waterfall" off Antarctica helps drive ocean currents around the world; and how the Sun's heating up of the southern Atlantic gives birth to a colossally powerful hurricane. From the microscopic world of water molecules vaporizing over the ocean to the magnetic field that is bigger than Earth itself, the show reveals the astonishing beauty and complexity of our dynamic planet. Watch the special online at http://video.pbs.org/video/2334144059.
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GOES-R Proving Ground effort featured on KITV in Hawaii. Installation of an L/X-band antenna in Honolulu, Hawaii, was one of this summer's major GOES-R Proving Ground projects. A story about this new antenna at the Honolulu Community College was recently featured on KITV in Hawaii. The tracking antenna, installed on August 8, 2012, is part of the GOES-R Proving Ground and datasets from this dish are being sent to the Honolulu Forecast Office and Pacific Region Headquarters for review and analysis. This satellite information is critical for the Hawaiian Islands, which are isolated by water. Read the full article here. Full Story
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Spaceflight Now highlights the improvements GOES-R will bring to hurricane forecasting.
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GOES-R, featured in the August 13, 2012 edition of the Sun Sentinel, highlighting the advancements the satellite series, will offer hurricane forecasting. Read Story: New Weather Satellites to Boost Hurricane Forecasts
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The GOES-R Proving Ground is featured in the July 2012 issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. “The GOES-R Proving Ground: Accelerating User Readiness for the Next-Generation Geostationary Environmental Satellite System” describes the purpose of the Proving Ground (PG), the developers and users who participate in the PG, current demonstration activities, training resources, and future plans for the PG. By demonstrating the advanced capabilities of the next generation of geostationary satellites, the PG addresses user readiness and the research-to-operations-to research loop. Read the full article here. Full Article (pdf)
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A Live Media Event: GOES and the 2012 Tornado Season: Satellites and their critical role in weather forecasting and creating a weather-ready nation were the focus of a national media tour featuring NOAA Deputy Administrator Kathryn Sullivan and storm researcher Tim Samara. Highlighted was GOES-R, the next generation of geostationary weather satellites, that is scheduled to launch in 2015. This collaborative satellite development between NOAA and NASA will provide continuous imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth's Western Hemisphere and space weather monitoring. The event took place at Goddard Space Flight Center’s state-of-the-art TV Studio on April 3, 2012. Video and Photos
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The GOES-R Series Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) spaceflight instrument Engineering Development Unit completed optical-electronic lightning sensitivity testing in January at the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto and showed excellent performance. More
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GOES-R Program Senior Scientist Steve Goodman was interviewed by WBAL radio’s Mary Beth Marsden on Friday March 2, 2012, about the recent tornado outbreaks. Dr. Goodman spoke about current tornado warning and detection systems and about future GOES-R capabilities for improved tornado warnings.
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With the recent devastating tornado outbreaks in 2012 GOES-R has received media attention about the future capabilities that our satellites will provide in helping to improve tornado detection. Here are a few links to some of the stories running:
GOES-R Research Satellite Meteorologist Tim Schmit was featured in NASA's Space Place Mission Chronicles in February 2012. Learn about Tim's work with environmental satellites and his contributions to GOES-R.
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The Utah Coalition for Educational Technology blog praises “Satellite Insight” on January 12, 2012. More
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Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research is holding a field campaign to improve sensors that will be aboard the next generation of geostationary satellites (GOES-R). More
