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 GOESNewsLatest NewsGOES-U Launch UpdatesLaunch Blog (offsite)OverviewOverviewGOES-R SeriesBenefitsGOES History (offsite)More Detail NOAA.Gov (offsite)Future Mission (offsite)LaunchesUpcoming LaunchesPrevious LaunchesLaunch Vehicle (offsite)SpacecraftSpacecraft Development ImagesSpacecraft (offsite)Instruments (offsite)3d Interactive Model (offsite)MoreFor Kids & EducatorsContacts and MediaExplore This SectionGOESNewsOverviewLaunchesSpacecraftMoreGOES Satellite NetworkGeostationary 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 MissionLaunch updatesGOES-U LaunchRecent ArticlesLatest NewsEarth NOW from GOESGOES Image ViewerGOES-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 TypeEarth OrbiterlaunchOngoing R Series LaunchesdestinationGeostationary OrbitobjectiveEarth and Space WeatherOverviewGOES 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.ORBITEquatorialAltitude22,236 MilesGOES West137.0 West (GOES 18)GOES East75.2 West (GOES 16)GOES West full disk image of the Earth half in day light and half in darkness.GOES-R SeriesNOAA’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.govGOES-RGOES-16 Nov 2016GOES-SGOES-17 Mar 2018GOES-TGOES-18 Mar 2022GOES-UNext to LaunchThe 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 forecastsEarly warning of severe storms and tornadoesFire detection, monitoring, and intensity estimationIdentification of lightning strikes most likely to ignite firesDetection of low clouds and fogMonitoring of atmospheric river events that can cause flooding and mudslidesMonitoring of smoke, dust and aerosolsData for air quality warnings and alertsData for aviation route planning and reducing weather-related flight delaysDetection of volcanic eruptions and monitoring of ash and sulfur dioxideDetection of heavy rainfall and flash flood risks.Sea surface temperature data for monitoring fisheries and marine lifeMonitoring of vegetative healthData for long-term climate variability studiesDetection of meteors entering Earth’s atmosphereDetection of coronal holes, solar flares, and coronal mass ejection source regionsWarning of space weather hazards responsible for communications and navigation disruptions and power blackoutsMonitoring of energetic particles responsible for radiation hazardsGOES News FeedGOES news features released on nasa.gov in reverse chronological order.  For launch updates see the next section "GOES Launch Updates".SearchSearchSort:Publish dateOrder:DescendingNASA Invites Media to View NOAA’s Newest Environmental SatelliteNASA Invites Social Creators for Launch of NOAA Weather SatelliteNASA Invites Media to NOAA’s Advanced Weather Satellite LaunchNASA Selects BAE Systems to Develop Air Quality Instrument for NOAANOAA’s GOES-U Arrives in Florida for Processing Ahead of LaunchNOAA’s GOES-U Completes Environmental TestingPrevious12345...30NextGOES Launch UpdatesGOES-U is the next GOES-R Series satellite to launch.  This section contains highlights in reverse chronological order of key launch blog updates, stories and news articles about the GOES-U launch.See also the GOES BlogRender of series of GOES-R satellitesGOES-U Launch UpdateNASA Invites Media to View NOAA’s Newest Environmental SatelliteNASA will host a media availability to view NOAA’s (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) spacecraft Thursday June 6, at the Astrotech Space Operations payload processing facility in Titusville, Florida.June 6, 2024 - More DetailsImage shows technicians in 'bunny suits' working on a GOES satellite in a clean room.Technicians monitor movement and guide NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-U (GOES-U) as a crane hoists it on to a spacecraft dolly in a high bay at the Astrotech Space Operations Facility near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.NASA/Ben SmegelskyGOES-U Launch UpdateNASA Invites Media to NOAA’s Advanced Weather Satellite LaunchNASA and SpaceX are targeting a two-hour launch window opening at 5:16 p.m. EDT Tuesday, June 25. The mission will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.5:16pm EDT June 25, 2024 - Read Moregoes-u spacecraft 3d rendering in center of image visualized from the point of view of earth orbit with the earth to the left and the sun to the right.GOES-U spacecraft rendering.NOAA/Lockheed MartinLaunch ActivityGOES-U Art ChallengeEnter our lightning art challenge to draw, paint, or sculpt what you think lightning looks like from the ground, the sky, or even from a satellite—the sky is the limit! Click the link below to learn more about how to submit your artwork between 5/1/24 and 5/31/24. Selected works of art will appear on the SciJinks website in June—just in time for the GOES-U launch!Learn MoreCheck out the GOES-R Series satellites art challenge.Check out the GOES-R Series satellites art challenge.NOAA/JPL CaltechGOES-U Launch UpdateNew Launch Date  for GOES-UNASA and SpaceX now are targeting Tuesday, June 25, for the launch of GOES-U, the fourth and final satellite in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) – R Series.Blog PostGOES-U Launch UpdateLaunch of NOAA Weather Satellite DelayedNASA and SpaceX are now targeting no earlier than May 2024 for the launch of the fourth and final satellite in NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) – R Series, GOES-U.Blog PostA view of the GOES-U satellite in a clean room being prepped for launch with technicians in full clean room white "bunny suits" working.Technicians monitor movement and guide NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-U (GOES-U) as a crane hoists it on to a spacecraft dolly in a high bay at the Astrotech Space Operations Facility near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.NASA/Ben SmegelskyGOES-U Launch UpdateGOES-U Arrives at KSCGOES-U arrives at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. Crews transported the satellite to the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Florida to prepare it for launch.GOES-U Road to LaunchA large cargo plane sits on the runway with the nose cone open to reveal a semi truck inside unloading the GOES U satellite at KSC.NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-U (GOES-U) is offloaded from a C-5M Super Galaxy transport aircraft onto the flatbed of a heavy-lift truck at the Launch and Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. Crews transported the satellite to the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Florida to prepare it for launch. Part of a collaborative NOAA and NASA program, GOES-U is the fourth in a series of four advanced geostationary weather satellites. Data from the GOES satellite constellation – consisting of the GOES-R, GOES-S, GOES-T and GOES-U spacecraft – enables forecasters to predict, observe, and track local weather events that affect public safety like thunderstorms, hurricanes, and wildfires.NASA/Leejay LockhartGOES-U Road to Launch ImagesThis 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).View as a thumbnail galleryGOES-U Spacecraft DevelopmentThis 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).View as a thumbnail galleryGOES-R Series LaunchPrevious Launch: GOES-TNOAA’s GOES-T satellite launched  at 4:38 p.m. EST on March 1, 2022. GOES-T was  renamed GOES-18 once it reached geostationary orbit. GOES-18 will replace GOES-17 as NOAA’s operational GOES-West satellite in early 2023, to track storm systems, lightning, wildfires, dense fog and other hazards that threaten the western U.S.Follow the GOES-T Launch BlogsA close-up view of the 4 first-stage engines blasting out an orange firey thrust against a black background.A close-up view of the first-stage engines as the United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket, carrying NOAA's GOES-T satellite, lifts off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on March 1, 2022. Liftoff was at 4:38 p.m. EST.NASA/Kevin O'Connell & Kevin DavGOES-T Launch SlideshowGOES-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).View as a thumbnail galleryContacts / Media01Jacob Richmond NASA/GSFCEmail:  **jacob.a.richmond@nasa.gov**02NOAA Satellites Public Affairs TeamEmail:  **nesdis.pa@noaa.gov**GOES-U concept imageFor Kids and Educators01SCI-Jinks Introduction to GOES-R Series SatellitesSciJinks 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.Explore02GOES-R Educational Videos FOR KIDSA large collection of videos **specifically geared toward kids** that explain and illustrate key concepts GOES-R and weather.Explore03GOES-R Educational Posters and InfographicsA 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.Explorecartoon representation of GOES-R satellite with earth in background with hurricane.Keep ExploringDiscover More Topics From NASAWeatherSpace WeatherSW1.pngEarth: ExplorationEyes on the Earth AdEarth StoriesA full globe image of Earth taken from the DSCOVR satellite from a distance of 941,000 miles.
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