GOES-R Spacecraft
The GOES-R Series spacecraft bus is three-axis stabilized and designed for 10 years of on-orbit operation preceded by up to five years of on-orbit storage. The satellites are able to operate through periodic station-keeping and momentum-adjust maneuvers, which allow for near-continuous instrument observations. Explore GOES-R 3D model below to see where each instrument is placed on the satellite.
Other notable performance elements include vibration isolation for the Earth-pointed optical bench and high-speed spacecraft-to-instrument interfaces designed to maximize science data collection. The cumulative time that GOES-R Series science data collection (including imaging) will be interrupted due to all momentum management, station-keeping, and yaw flip maneuvers is under 120 minutes per year. This is a nearly two orders of magnitude improvement compared to the previous GOES satellites. The spacecraft carries three classifications of instruments: nadir-pointing, solar-pointing, and in-situ.
Satellite Driving Requirements
- Spacecraft on-orbit life of 15 years with orbit east-west and north-south position maintained to within +/-0.1 degree
- Collect and transmit up to 100 Mbps instrument payload data from each location continuously
- Continuous rebroadcast function at L-Band up to 31 Mbps utilizing dual polarization
- Provide continuing services [Search and Rescue, Data System Collection, Emergency Manager’s Weather Information Network (EMWIN)]
Spacecraft Specifications
- Dimensions: 20 ft x 18.4 ft x 12.8 ft (6.1 m x 5.6 m x 3.9 m)
- GOES-R, S, and T dry mass: 6,299 lbs (2,857 kg)
- GOES-U dry mass: 6,450 lbs (2,925 kg); GOES-U carries an additional instrument, CCOR-1, adding some mass
- GOES-R, S, T mass at launch (fueled): 11,446 lbs (5,192 kg)
- GOES-U mass at launch (fueled): 11,023 lbs (5,000 kg); GOES-U launch vehicle (Falcon Heavy) requires less fuel than the Atlas V that launched GOES-R, S and T
GOES-R Series Instruments Overview
There are three classifications of GOES-R Series instruments:
Nadir-pointing
- Earth-pointed
- Mounted on highly stable, precision pointed platform
- Dynamically isolated from the rest of the spacecraft
- Includes ABI and GLM
Solar-pointing
- Mounted on a Sun Pointing Platform (SPP) housed on the solar array yoke
- The SPP provides a stable platform that tracks the seasonal and daily movement of the sun relative to the spacecraft
- Includes EXIS and SUVI on GOES-R/S/T and EXIS, SUVI, and CCOR on GOES-U
In-Situ
- Includes SEISS and the Magnetometer
- Provide localized measurements of particles and fields in geosynchronous orbit
- Features include:
- A wide variance in Field-of-View (FOV) requirements for the SEISS sensors
- A boom to provide relative magnetic isolation for the Magnetometer
Interactive Satellite
GOES Instruments
ABI is the primary instrument on the GOES-R Series for imaging Earth’s weather, climate, oceans and the environment. ABI views the Earth with 16 spectral bands (compared to five on previous GOES) and provides three times more spectral information, four times the spatial resolution, and more than five times faster coverage than the current system.
More about ABI Advanced Baseline Imager
GLM is the first-ever operational lightning mapper flown in geostationary orbit and measures total lightning (in-cloud and cloud-to-ground) activity. Developing severe storms often exhibit a significant increase in total lightning activity, and data from the GOES-R Series lightning mapper has great potential to increase lead time for severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings.
More about GLM Geostationary Lightning Mapper
EXIS detects and monitors solar irradiance in the upper atmosphere. The X-Ray Sensor monitors solar flares that can disrupt communications and degrade navigational accuracy, affecting satellites, astronauts, high-latitude airline passengers and power grid performance. The Extreme Ultraviolet Sensor monitors solar variations that directly affect satellite drag and tracking and ionospheric changes, which impact communications and navigation operations
More about EXIS Extreme Ultraviolet and X-ray Irradiance Sensors
SUVI is a telescope that observes and characterizes coronal holes, solar flares and coronal mass ejection source regions. SUVI data enables improved forecasting of space weather and early warnings of possible impacts to the Earth environment, including disruption of power utilities and communication and navigation systems as well as possible damage to orbiting satellites and the International Space Station.
More about SUVI Solar Ultraviolet Imager
The Magnetometer provides measurements of the space environment magnetic field that controls charged particle dynamics in the outer region of the magnetosphere. These particles can be dangerous to spacecraft and human spaceflight. The geomagnetic field measurements provide alerts and warnings to satellite operators and power utilities.
More about MAG Magnetometer
SEISS is an array of sensors that monitor proton, electron and heavy ion fluxes at geosynchronous orbit. Information provided by SEISS is used for assessing radiation hazards to astronauts and satellites and to warn of high flux events, mitigating damage to radio communications.
More about SEISS Space Environment In-Situ Suite
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