GOES-18 Launch

This is GLM, the Geostationary Lightning Mapper. It measures lightning to help identify intensifying storms. As storms become more severe, lightning activity often increases, especially lightning in clouds. GLM is the first instrument of its kind in geostationary orbit.

This is ABI, the Advanced Baseline Imager. ABI watches over the Western Hemisphere. Its data tells us about the weather, oceans, land, climate, and natural hazards. It monitors cloud formations, atmospheric motion, land and sea surface temperatures, ocean dynamics, fire, smoke, volcanic ash, air quality, and vegetative health.

This is SUVI, the Solar Ultraviolet Imager. SUVI observes active regions of the sun, solar flares, and eruptions of solar filaments that may give rise to coronal mass ejections. SUVI data helps provide early space weather warnings to electric power companies, telecommunication providers, and satellite operators.

This is EXIS, the Extreme Ultraviolet and X-ray Irradiance Sensors. EXIS detects solar flares and monitors solar irradiance that affects Earth's upper atmosphere. EXIS provides data that warn of radio ablackouts. This helps us manage ground-baded radio communications and navication systems.

This is SEISS, the Space Environment In-Situ Suite. SEISS monitors proton, electron, and heavy ion fluxes in the magnetosphere. Information from SEISS is critical for assessing electrostatic discharge risk and radiation hazards to astronauts and satellites. SEISS can also warn of high-flux events that can disrupt radio communications.

This is MAG, the Magnetometer. MAG measures the magnetic field in the outer portion of the magnetosphere. Geomagnetic field measurements warn of magnetic storms that could harm spacecraft and human spaceflight as well as disrupt power utilities.