The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) system is a basic element of the United States weather monitoring and forecasting system. Two satellites, GOES-East and GOES-West, provide data and communication links to a variety of users.
The 2100 kilogram satellites are 2 meter cubes which expand to 27 meters when the solar arrays are deployed. The GOES system orbits at an altitude of 35,800 km, with a 24 hour period. This means that GOES remains above the same location while in orbit. GOES-East is located at 75 W while GOES-West is at 135 W, giving continuous coverage of North and South America and adjacent areas of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
The GOES system contains a variety of scientific instruments. The sounder is a radiometer which senses |
specific radiant energy for vertical atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles, surface and cloud-top temperature, and ozone distribution. The imager senses radiant and solar reflected energy from sampled areas of Earth. The space environment monitor consists of a magnetometer, x-ray sensor, high-energy proton and alpha detector, and an energetic particles sensor, all used for surveying the near-Earth space environment.
Additionally, GOES satellites have the capability of receiving and transmitting distress signals with the Search and Rescue Satellite (SARSAT) system. Launched by Atlas/Centaur rockets from Cape Canaveral, FL, GOES reaches its orbit in 9 days.
http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/goesb/chesters/web/goesproject.html |
