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Space Junk Graphic Illustration
Does Space Junk Fall from the Sky?
Yes it does! On average, a total of between 200-400 tracked objects enter Earth’s atmosphere every year. That’s about one every day! Thankfully human populations are rarely affected by things falling from the sky (from outer space). This is largely a numbers game. Human populations live on a small percentage of the Earth’s total surface area. So any objects that do not burn up and disintegrate upon atmosphere re-entry are likely to fall into the ocean (which covers over 70% of the surface of the Earth) or a sparsely populated land area.
GOES-13 views Hurricane Gonzalo in the Caribbean and active weather across the western and central North Atlantic on October 14, 2014.
Farewell to GOES-13: The History of NOAA’s Former GOES East Satellite
For more than seven years, NOAA’s GOES-13 satellite has been actively monitoring the skies over the Western Hemisphere, serving as a critical source of information during major U.S. weather events, from crippling snowstorms to powerful hurricanes. Here’s a look back at the satellite’s unique history and its most memorable imagery.
Hurricane Sandy Intensifying in the Caribbean Before Tracking Up the East Coast
NOAA Retires GOES-13 Satellite After 10 Years of Stellar Service
Makes way for next generation of weather imagery! NOAA’s GOES-13 satellite has captured some of the most notorious weather events in recent U.S. history – from paralyzing blizzards in the Northeast and Midwest, to destructive hurricanes like Sandy in 2012 and last summer’s historic run of Hurricane Harvey, Irma and Maria.
NOAA Satellite Illustration
How Many New Year’s Eves Will NOAA’s Satellites Celebrate?
Every year at midnight on December 31st, the mathematical and mysterious converge as we witness a new year begin! It’s a pretty exciting event here on Earth, and thinking about time and space has us wondering: how many New Year's Eve celebrations will our satellites in the sky capture this year? We know that NOAA-20, our most advanced polar-orbiting weather satellite, makes 14 rotations around the globe each day, scanning every location on Earth at least twice in 24 hours. We also know our geostationary satellite NOAA GOES-16, now in the operational GOES East location, maintains watch over the Western Hemisphere. So, let’s start the calculations!
GOES-16 Launch
The Best Moments of 2017 - NOAA Satellite and Information Service
As the Earth completes its 2017 journey around the Sun, NOAA's fleet of satellites had an amazing view along the way. This year, the NOAA Satellite and Information Services (NESDIS) team championed its commitment to provide data that matters to the American people, and helped create a Weather-Ready Nation. Here’s a look back at some of our proudest moments from the past year.
Satellite imagery of sea surface temperature anomalies, October 2017.
Why Are Some Coral Reefs Dying? NOAA Satellites & NOAA’s Coral Program Help Conserve These Vulnerable Habitats
p { width:900px; } The ocean is home to critical coral reef ecosystems that provide a home to millions of plant, fish and marine animal species. Coral reefs are often called the “rainforests of the sea”. They are some of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on Earth. They account for just 0.1% of the ocean, but are home to a quarter of all marine species. Around the globe, some of the corals which provide the base of these fragile habitats are dying. When water temperatures rise above normal levels for too long, corals expel algae that live in their tissue and their white skeleton is exposed. This bleaching process leaves coral vulnerable and stressed which can result in death. The reefs are also threatened by human activities including pollution, unsustainable fishing practices, and global climate change. 
An Image Illustration of the GOES-R Satellite
How to Drift a Satellite: What Happens when NOAA GOES-16 is Moved into Operational Position
NOAA GOES-16, the newest and most advanced geostationary weather satellite, will begin moving into its operational orbit on November 30 - just over a year after it was first launched. After a three-week transition period known as "drift", NOAA GOES-16 will replace NOAA GOES-13 as the primary satellite monitoring the skies over the Western Hemisphere. Here is everything you need to know about GOES-16's journey to its new orbital position.
NOAA JPSS-1 Swath Width Illustration
Can Satellites See You? Can You See a Satellite?
p { width:900px; } NOAA satellites have the capability to provide astounding views of the Earth. But many people want to know if these satellites can see their house, or even through their roofs and walls to the people inside.
NOAA Satellites is Feeling Thankful this Thanksgiving
NOAA Satellites is Feeling Thankful this Thanksgiving
NOAA satellites tend to see the ‘big picture’ a lot. Looking at Earth from 22,240 miles back (GOES-16’s home in the sky), allows us to see some really big things to be thankful for all the time. So this Thanksgiving we thought we’d take a much closer look at some of the smallest things we appreciate here at NOAA. This Thanksgiving, NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service team wants to thank the little guys.