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New GOES-West Weather Satellite Becomes Operational

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The GOES-S weather satellite sits atop the Atlas V rocket at NASA Kennedy Space Center on the day before launch. Photograph: Weatherboy
The GOES-S weather satellite sits atop the Atlas V rocket at NASA Kennedy Space Center on the day before launch. Photograph: Weatherboy





The satellite which launched as GOES-S on March 1, 2018  is now operating as GOES-West, covering the western United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and much of the Pacific ocean. GOES-West began as GOES-S at launch.  Once in space, it was designated as GOES-17. Now that it’s operational, it will keep the “West” moniker.  NOAA also announced that NOAA-20, the first spacecraft in the Joint Polar Satellite System, is operating as NOAA’s primary afternoon polar satellite. It features the most advanced technology NOAA has ever flown in a polar orbit to capture more precise observations of the world’s atmosphere, land and waters.

“NOAA now has both types of advanced satellites — geostationary and polar-orbiting — in operation. We’re continuing to deploy and leverage the latest technology to improve observations that help us achieve the goals of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., NOAA assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction.




“Extraordinary observations from GOES-17 are being infused into the forecast process, enabling us to offer new and improved forecasts, products, and services that save lives and property,” said Louis W. Uccellini, Ph.D., director of the National Weather Service.





Unfortunately a defect found in the satellite renders some data poorly. Shortly after launching, a serious malfunction was identified which rendered it’s primary instrument, the ABI, ineffective when the satellite was heated by the sun. The satellite went live in November as workers attempted to solve the technical failure of its cooling system. Since then, work has been done to reduce and/or work-around flawed data coming from the satellite. “The GOES-17 ABI is now projected to deliver more than 97 percent of the data it was designed to provide, a testament to the skill and dedication of the engineers and all the GOES project team members,” said Stephen Volz, Ph.D., director, NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service. “We are confident the GOES constellation will continue to meet the needs of forecasters across the country.”