NOAA “GOES” Into Orbit

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) launched a new satellite the end of June. The satellite joins several other NOAA satellites in orbit above the Earth, and is designed to capture high-resolution images of weather patterns and take atmospheric measurements.

The satellite is designated Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-14, and joins GOES-11, 12 & 13 approximately 22,300 miles (35,800 kilometers) above the Equator. At this altitude, the satellite matches the Earth’s rotation, and provides images and collects data above a fixed point. One great benefit of the high altitude is the ability of the satellites to capture a full-disk image of the Earth.

Currently, only two GOES satellites are operational: GOES-12, in the east, and GOES-11, in the west. GOES-13 is in storage and can be activated as a back-up if necessary. After a six-month test period, GOES-14 also is slated to become a back-up satellite, and eventually replace the older satellites.

The NOAA maintains another series of satellites: Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES). These satellites orbit much lower than the geostationary satellites, only about 540 miles (about 870 kilometers) above Earth, and pass over the North and South Poles. Each polar orbiting satellite makes approximately 14.1 orbits of the Earth daily.

For specific information about the GOES and POES systems, check out the NOAA’s geostationary and Polar-orbiting satellite page: http://noaasis.noaa.gov/NOAASIS/ml/genlsatl.html.