Skip to main content

GOES-R Series Spacecraft & Instruments

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.

Interactive Satellite

 

GOES Instruments

Image at NESDIS
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
Image at NESDIS
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
Image at NESDIS
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
Image at NESDIS
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
Image at NESDIS
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
Image at NESDIS
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