- Home
- Missions
- Data
- Communications
- People
- The Earth Observer Newsletter
Recent Imagery
You will be directed to the NASA Visible Earth webpage when you select Images by Mission below, or click on the images at right that are randomly generated to represent four out of all possible topics.
You are here
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite A-C (GOES A-C)
Status:
Completed
Mission Category:
Inter-Agency Partnerships
Launch Date: October 16, 1975
Launch Location: Cape Canaveral, FL
The launch of the prototype Synchronous Meteorological Satellite, SMS-A, in May 1974 inaugurated the series of geosynchronous satellites that has provided systematic, continuous observations of weather patterns. A second prototype, SMS-B, followed in February 1975. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) program formally began with the launch of the first operational spacecraft, GOES-A, in 1975, which was renamed GOES-1 when it reached orbit. GOES-2 and GOES-3 followed in 1977 and 1978, respectively. These spacecraft obtained both day and night data on Earth’s weather from the Visible Infrared Spin-Span Radiometer (VISSR), a scanning instrument that formed images of Earth’ surface and cloud cover for transmission to regional data-user stations. These data were used in weather prediction and forecasting as well as for monitoring the space environment.
Key Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite A-C Facts
| Mission/Portal Page: | http://science.nasa.gov/missions/goes/ |
|---|---|
| Instruments: |
DCS (Data Collection System) SEM (Space Environment Monitor) VISSR (Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer) |
| Project Scientist(s): |
William E. Shenk |
Relevant Science Focus Areas:
- Weather
Relevant Science Questions:
- How is the global Earth system changing?
Related Applications:
- Weather Prediction