The latest GOES-R Quarterly Newsletter is now available for download.
Download All NewslettersThe GOES-R series, NOAA's next-generation geostationary weather satellites, is a game changer. These satellites will provide continuous imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth’s Western Hemisphere, total lightning data, and space weather monitoring.
View VideoGOES-R series data will be used in real time for critical weather forecasting and warning applications. Users will access GOES-R data in a number of ways.
Read MoreThe GOES-R Proving Ground facilitates research-to-operations, engaging the forecast and warning community in preoperational demonstration and evaluation of simulated GOES-R products.
Read MoreThe GOES-R series will make available 34 atmospheric, land, ocean, solar and space weather products for the forecasting and warning community. Read More
Ground support is critical to the GOES-R series mission. NOAA has developed a state-of-the-art ground system to receive data from the GOES-R spacecraft and generate real-time GOES-R products.
Read MoreNOAA's next generation of geostationary weather satellites
The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R Series (GOES-R) is the nation’s next generation of geostationary weather satellites. The GOES-R series will significantly improve the detection and observation of environmental phenomena that directly affect public safety, protection of property and our nation’s economic health and prosperity.
The satellites will provide advanced imaging with increased spatial resolution and faster coverage for more accurate forecasts, real-time mapping of lightning activity, and improved monitoring of solar activity.
The GOES-R series is a four-satellite program (GOES-R/S/T/U) that will extend the availability of the operational GOES satellite system through 2036.
Remote environmental sensing is only part of the GOES-R mission. The satellites will also provide unique capabilities to relay data directly to users to meet critical needs.
DCS is a satellite relay system used to collect information from Earth-based data collection platforms that transmit in-situ environmental sensor data from more than 20,000 platforms across the hemisphere.
GRB is the primary space relay of Level 1b products, replacing the GVAR (GOES VARiable) service. GRB will provide full resolution, calibrated, navigated, near real-time direct broadcast data.
Weather Information Network (HRIT/EMWIN) EMWIN is a direct service that provides users with weather forecasts, warnings, graphics and other information directly from the National Weather Service (NWS) in near real-time. HRIT service is a new high data rate (400 Kpbs) version of today’s LRIT (Low Rate Information Transmission), broadcasting GOES-R satellite imagery and selected products to remotely-located user terminals.
The SARSAT system detects and locates mariners, aviators and other recreational users in distress. GOES-R will continue the legacy function of the SARSAT system on board NOAA’s GOES satellites. This system uses a network of satellites to quickly detect and locate signals from emergency beacons onboard aircraft, vessels and from handheld personal locator beacons. The GOES-R SARSAT transponder will operate with a lower uplink power than the current system (32 bBm), enabling GOES-R to detect weaker beacon signals.
The GOES-R series spacecraft bus will be three-axis stabilized and designed for 10 years of on-orbit operation preceded by up to five years of on-orbit storage. The spacecraft will carry three classifications of instruments: nadir-pointing, solar-pointing, and in-situ. Learn More.
Explore the GOES-R series spacecraft: Use the quick view buttons above to swap the views of the spacecraft, watch the video below and use the Spacecraft & Instruments links below.
A fly by in space of GOES-R. Note: there is no audio, therefore no closed captions.
The most recent images of Earth's western hemisphere from the GOES constellation .
Environmental satellites provide data in several different formats. The most commonly used channels on weather satellites are the visible, infrared, and water vapor.
Visible satellite images, which look like black and white photographs, are derived from the satellite’s signals. Clouds usually appear white, while land and water surfaces appear in shades of gray or black. The visible channel reflects solar radiation. Clouds, the Earth's atmosphere, and the Earth's surface all absorb and reflect incoming solar radiation. Since visible imagery is produced by reflected sunlight (radiation), it is only available during daylight.
In the infrared (IR) channel, the satellite senses energy as heat. The Earth’s surface absorbs about half of the incoming solar energy. Clouds and the atmosphere absorb a much smaller amount. The Earth’s surface, clouds, and the atmosphere then re-emit part of this absorbed solar energy as heat. The infrared channel senses this re-emitted radiation. Infrared imagery is useful for determining cloud features both at day and night.
Water vapor imagery is used to analyze the presence and movement of water vapor moisture in the upper and middle levels of the atmosphere. The wavelength spectrum used to detect water vapor is in the 6.7 to 7.3 micrometer wavelength range. The darker regions in water vapor imagery are areas where very little water vapor exists in the middle and upper troposphere, and the lighter regions are very moist. Water vapor imagery is a very valuable tool for weather analysis and prediction because water vapor imagery shows moisture in the atmosphere, not just cloud patterns. This allows meteorologists to observe large-scale circulation patterns even when clouds are not present.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) maintains two primary constellations of environmental satellites: geostationary and polar-orbiting. These satellites are part of NOAA's integrated observing system, which includes satellites, radar, surface automated weather stations, weather balloons, sounders, buoys, instrumented aircraft and other sensors, along with the data management infrastructure needed for this system.
Geostationary satellites orbit 35,800 km (22,300 miles) above Earth's equator at speeds equal to Earth's rotation, which means they maintain their positions and provide continuous coverage. Information from geostationary satellites is used for short-term (1 day) weather forecasting and severe storm warning and tracking.
Polar-orbiting satellites make regular orbits around the Earth’s poles from about 833 km (517 miles) above the Earth’s surface. The Earth constantly rotates counterclockwise underneath the path of the satellite, making for a different view with each orbit. Information from polar-orbiting satellites is used for mid-range (3-7 day) forecasts and advanced warnings of severe weather.
GOES satellites continually view the continental United States, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, Central and South America, and Southern Canada. To fully cover Alaska, Hawaii, the entire continental United States and the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans (for tropical storms), NOAA operates two GOES satellites simultaneously: GOES-East and GOES-West. GOES East is located at 75° W and provides most of the U.S. weather information. GOES West is located at 135°W over the Pacific Ocean. In the GOES-R series era, GOES West will be located at 137°W. In addition to two operational satellites, NOAA also maintains an on-orbit spare.
Since 1975, GOES have provided continuous imagery and data on atmospheric conditions and solar activity (space weather). They have even aided in search and rescue of people in distress. GOES data products have led to more accurate and timely weather forecasts and better understanding of long-term climate conditions. NASA builds and launches the satellites and NOAA operates them.
GOES-R launched on November 19, 2016 and will be followed by GOES-S in 2018, GOES-T in 2019 and GOES-U in 2024.The GOES-R series will extend the availability of the operational GOES satellite system through 2036.
GOES-R successfully launched from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, aboard an Atlas V 541 rocket on November 19, 2016 at 6:42 p.m. EST.
GOES-R, which became GOES-16 when it reached geostationary orbit, will be placed in the 89.5 degree West checkout location where it will undergo an extended checkout and validation phase of approximately one year. The satellite will transition to operations immediately afterward.
GOES-16’s operational orbit has not yet been determined. The final decision will be based on the health/safety/performance of the GOES constellation. NOAA’s Office of Satellite and Product Operations will be responsible for determining the operational orbit for GOES-16.
GOES satellites are placed into a geosynchronous orbit which is an orbit that keeps the satellite over a specific location on the earth. By maintaining a position hovering over fixed point on the Earth's surface, GOES will be able to constantly monitor atmospheric conditions in a particular portion of the Earth's atmosphere. Note that non-geosynchronous orbits (for example polar orbits) move over an ever rotating earth underneath them, therefore seeing a constantly changing view which has advantages for other types of missions.
GOES-16 joins the GOES constellation of satellites monitoring the Western Hemisphere's weather as well as space weather. Up next: GOES-S in 2018. See the Earth from GOES! ... LIVE images of Earth right NOW!
User training efforts focus on the quantitative and qualitative use of GOES-R series data and products, methods for interpreting GOES-R data, new features, capabilities and algorithms, and a better understanding of atmospheric sciences and mesoscale meteorology in preparation for the GOES-R series satellites.
GOES-R series training is developed and provided by a number of partners across the weather enterprise through the GOES-R Proving Ground and NOAA testbed demonstrations, e-learning training modules, fact sheets, seminars, scientific and user conferences, weather event simulations, special case studies, satellite liaisons, the visiting scientist program and sample data products.
On December 22, 2016, the GOES-16 Magnetometer (MAG) became the first instrument on the satellite to begin transmitting data! Earth’s geomagnetic field acts as a shield, protecting us from hazardous incoming solar radiation. Geomagnetic storms, caused by eruptions on the surface of the sun, can interfere with communications and navigation systems, cause damage to satellites, cause health risks to astronauts, and threaten power utilities. When a solar flare occurs, GOES-16 will tell space weather forecasters where it happened on the sun and how strong it was. Using that information, forecasters can determine if the explosion of energy is coming toward Earth or not. The GOES-16 MAG samples five times faster than previous GOES magnetometers, which increases the range of space weather phenomena that can be measured. This plot shows preliminary data from the outboard Magnetometer instrument on board the GOES-16 satellite observed December 22, 2016.
January 22
Seattle, Washington
January 22‒26
Seattle, Washington
April 3-6, 2017
Colorado Springs, Colorado
April 25‒27, 2017
Kansas City, Missouri
May 2‒5, 2017
Broomfield, Colorado
July 17-20, 2017
August 15‒19, 2017
Kansas City, Missouri
October 2-6, 2017
Rome, Italy