NOAA’s GOES Satellite: Past and Future Missions
Updated: Aug 3
This satellite is the most recent addition to a fleet that will offer meteorologists in the United States and around the Western Hemisphere high-resolution photos of various weather dangers, including hurricanes, wildfires, and lightning storms.
The NOAA-Owned GOES-T Weather Satellite, Which Was Developed by Lockheed Martin & Successfully Launched into Space. According to Jagdeep Shergill, the launch of GOES-T is the product of innovative engineering, groundbreaking scientific research, and outstanding teamwork among NASA, Lockheed Martin and NOAA.
Because of the influence that changing climate has on the weather patterns that occur all over the globe, the job that satellites like GOES-T do is more important than ever before to assist in keeping people safe both now and in the future. After it entered the geostationary orbit, the satellite formerly known as GOES-T was given the name of GOES-18.
The GOES-T satellite will help track weather on Earth and in space. (Image credit: NASA)
The purpose of GOES-18 satellite is to replace the GOES-17 in its role of monitoring the West Coast of the USA for severe climate and weather events such as atmospheric rivers, flood, wildfires, and drought.
Enhanced Observation and Monitoring of the Climate, Oceans, and Weather
The GOES-R series of satellite, of which GOES-T has become the 3rd one, uses advanced tech to put data in the hands of those who require it the most, at the exact time they need it. This is necessary because climate change continues to drive severe impacts over the environment.
In Littleton, Colorado, engineers from Lockheed Martin designed of and constructed the satellite before it was sent into orbit to begin its mission of gathering and disseminating vitally important meteorological data.
The spacecraft, created by Lockheed Martin's Advanced Technology Institute in Palo Alto, California, and based on the innovative A2100 satellite bus architecture developed by the corporation, is equipped with two high-tech instruments:
Lightning Mapper Located in Geostationary Orbit (GLM)
It is the first operational lightning mapper to be launched into orbit and monitors lightning strikes throughout the United States in real-time. The Global Lightning Map (GLM) enables meteorologists to swiftly detect increasing storms and take the necessary action by gathering information about frequency, location, and extent of lightning discharges. The Global Lightning Map (GLM) beat the record for the longest lightning flash in 2020 when it caught a lightning mega flash that was almost 500 miles long.
The GOES-T satellite was launched on an Atlas V rocket. (Image credit: ULA)
Solar Uv Imager
This instrument focuses on space weather and offers solar imagery in addition to taking measurements of the sun in the extreme ultraviolet wavelength band. Understanding active regions on the sun and being able to accurately anticipate solar occurrences that may interfere with electrical utilities, transmission or navigation here on Earth are both made possible by the use of SUVI.
During its operational lifespan of ten years, GOES-T can provide more than a terabyte of data every day. Additionally, it will monitor severe weather in support of NOAA's goal to deliver weather data to save lives.
What Comes Next After the Launch
GOES-T will perform an on-orbit review of its sensors and systems. The start of the satellite's official operations is scheduled for January 2023.
In addition to monitoring for severe weather, it will do tasks such as the following:
Locate volcanic eruptions, including those that take place underwater, such as the most recent one that took place near Tonga.
Tracking drought conditions and a rising ocean requires measuring the temperatures of both land and sea surfaces.
Wildfires, particularly those sparked by lightning strikes, should have early warnings sent to emergency personnel, and you should do so.
Keep an eye out for solar flares, which might affect communication on Earth and in space.
After successfully launching GOES-R weather satellites, the fourth and last satellite in the series, GOES-U, is now under construction and is scheduled to be found in 2024.
Lockheed Martin looks forward to continuing its cooperation with NASA & NOAA as they plan for future climate and weather missions. This partnership will extend beyond the GOES-R series.
More Information Regarding the Purpose
Lockheed Martin has been developing and launching more than 120 weather as well as environmental spacecraft for the civilian and military branches of the United States government over more than 50 years.
The current GOES-R Series of weather satellites results from a joint acquisition & development effort by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to create, launch, and operate the satellites.
NOAA is responsible for the operation of the GOES satellites as well as the production and distribution of information and data to users all over the world. NASA, on the other hand, is in charge of the acquisition of spacecraft and instruments as well as the management of launch through its Launch Program.
Lockheed Martin is currently developing, constructing, testing, flying, and conceptualizing cutting-edge spacecraft that will facilitate future missions' success and excite the next era of explorers.