GOES Satellite Network

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) is a collaborative NOAA and NASA program providing continuous imagery and data on atmospheric conditions and solar activity ( space weather ). NASA builds and launches the GOES and NOAA operates them.

active Mission

Launch updates

GOES-19 Updates

Recent Articles

Latest News

Earth NOW from GOES

GOES Image Viewer
GOES-R series satellite 3d rendering front left side visible with the Earth reflected in it's solar panels.

Since 1975, NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) have provided continuous imagery and data on atmospheric conditions and solar activity (space weather). They have even aided in search and rescue of people in distress. GOES data products have led to more accurate and timely weather forecasts and better understanding of long-term climate conditions.

Mission Type

Earth Orbiter

launch

Ongoing R Series Launches

destination

Geostationary Orbit

objective

Earth and Space Weather

Overview

GOES provide advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth’s Western Hemisphere, real-time mapping of lightning activity, and monitoring of solar activity and space weather. GOES satellites orbit 22,236 miles above Earth’s equator, at speeds equal to the Earth's rotation. This allows them to maintain their positions over specific geographic regions so they can provide continuous coverage of that area over time.

ORBIT

Equatorial

Altitude

22,236 Miles

GOES West

137.0 West (GOES 18)

GOES East

75.2 West (GOES 16)

GOES West full disk image of the Earth half in day light and half in darkness.

GOES-R Series

NOAA’s most sophisticated Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES), is known as the GOES-R Series, The GOES-R Series provides critical atmospheric, hydrologic, oceanic, climatic, solar and space data, significantly improving detection and observation of environmental phenomena that directly affect public safety, protection of property, and our nation’s economic health and prosperity.

More Detail on NOAA.gov

GOES-R

GOES-16 Nov 2016

GOES-S

GOES-17 Mar 2018

GOES-T

GOES-18 Mar 2022

GOES-U

Next to Launch

The first satellite in the series, GOES-R, now known as GOES-16, was launched in 2016 and is currently operational as NOAA’s GOES East satellite. GOES-S, now known as GOES-17, was launched in 2018 and now serves as an on-orbit backup. GOES-T, now GOES-18, launched in 2022 and now serves as NOAA’s operational GOES West satellite. GOES satellites are designated with a letter prior to launch. Once a GOES satellite has successfully reached geostationary orbit, it is renamed with a number. GOES-U, the final satellite in the series, is scheduled to launch in 2024.

Together, GOES East and GOES West watch over more than half the globe — from the west coast of Africa to New Zealand and from near the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic Circle. 

Benefits Include:

  • Hurricane track and intensity forecasts
  • Early warning of severe storms and tornadoes
  • Fire detection, monitoring, and intensity estimation
  • Identification of lightning strikes most likely to ignite fires
  • Detection of low clouds and fog
  • Monitoring of atmospheric river events that can cause flooding and mudslides
  • Monitoring of smoke, dust and aerosols
  • Data for air quality warnings and alerts
  • Data for aviation route planning and reducing weather-related flight delays
  • Detection of volcanic eruptions and monitoring of ash and sulfur dioxide
  • Detection of heavy rainfall and flash flood risks.
  • Sea surface temperature data for monitoring fisheries and marine life
  • Monitoring of vegetative health
  • Data for long-term climate variability studies
  • Detection of meteors entering Earth’s atmosphere
  • Detection of coronal holes, solar flares, and coronal mass ejection source regions
  • Warning of space weather hazards responsible for communications and navigation disruptions and power blackouts
  • Monitoring of energetic particles responsible for radiation hazards

GOES-19 Updates

GOES-19 is the final GOES-R Series satellite. Known as GOES-U whenit launched on June 25, 2024, once it reached geostationary orbit its name changed to GOES-19. This section contains highlights of key milestones in the form of launch blog updates, feature stories and news items that track the GOES-U launch and GOES-19 commissioning on the path to becoming operational.

See also the GOES Blog
Render of series of GOES-R satellites

GOES-U Launch Images

The image below is a SLIDESHOW. Hover over the image to see the image title and controls. Click the image to go to a detail page with more info and the ability to download the image at various resolutions (click downward arrow in lower right corner).

NOAA's GOES-U Launch

GOES-U Road to Launch Images

This is a slideshow. Hover over it to see image titles and controls. Click any image to view a detail page with descriptions and the ability to view/download images in various resolutions (download icon in lower right on detail page).

GOES-U Arrives at Kennedy Space Center

GOES-U Spacecraft Development

This is a slideshow. Hover over it to see image titles and controls. Click any image to view a detail page with descriptions and the ability to view/download images in various resolutions (download icon in lower right on detail page).

GOES-U Solar Array Deployed

GOES-T Launch Slideshow

GOES-T was the most recent GOES-R Series satellite to launch. Once in orbit it was renamed GOES 18 and then moved into position to become GOES West, as part of the operational GOES Fleet.

This is a slideshow. Hover over it to see image titles and controls. Click any image to view a detail page with descriptions and the ability to view/download images in various resolutions (download icon in lower right on detail page).

GOES-T Liftoff from SLC-41

Contacts / Media

  1. 01

    Jacob Richmond NASA/GSFC

    Email: jacob.a.richmond@nasa.gov

  2. 02

    NOAA Satellites Public Affairs Team

    Email: nesdis.pa@noaa.gov

For Kids and Educators

  1. 01

    SCI-Jinks Introduction to GOES-R Series Satellites

    SciJinks has a collection of videos, posters, comic books, activity books and more that introduce and explain key concepts of GOES-R Series Satellite's mission.

    Explore

  2. 02

    GOES-R Educational Videos FOR KIDS

    A large collection of videos specifically geared toward kids that explain and illustrate key concepts GOES-R and weather.

    Explore

  3. 03

    GOES-R Educational Posters and Infographics

    A large collection of posters and infographics that explain and illustrate key concepts of GOES-R and weather. There is a set geared toward kids and others that are more advanced that educators at different levels might find useful.

    Explore

Keep Exploring

Discover More Topics From NASA