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| GOES-R Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) |
| What is GOES-R? |
| GOES-R is the next generation of NOAA geostationary Earth-observing systems. The satellite’s advanced spacecraft and instrument technology will support expanded detection of environmental phenomena, resulting in more timely and accurate forecasts and warnings. » More |
| When will GOES-R launch? |
| GOES-R is scheduled to launch no earlier than October 2015. » Click here for the latest launch schedule. |
| What monitoring capabilities will be available with GOES-R? |
| GOES-R will have 65 meteorological, solar, and space weather products, including 34 baseline products and 31 option 2 products. » Learn More |
| What improvements will GOES-R have over the current GOES satellites? |
| GOES-R advanced spacecraft and instrument technology will support expanded detection of environmental phenomena, resulting in more timely and accurate forecasts and warnings. The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), a sixteen channel imager with two visible channels, four near-infrared channels, and ten infrared channels, will provide three times more spectral information, four times the spatial resolution, and more than five times faster temporal coverage than the current system. Other advancements over current GOES capabilities include total lightning detection (in-cloud and cloud-to-ground flashes) and mapping from the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), and increased dynamic range, resolution, and sensitivity in monitoring solar X-ray flux with the Solar UV Imager (SUVI). |
| Who uses the information GOES-R provides? |
| GOES-R data will be used for forecasting and warning applications primarily by the National Weather Service. Additional users include other federal agencies, the Department of Defense, the private sector, and the academic community. » Learn more about GOES-R users. |
| What is being done to prepare the user community for the launch of GOES-R? |
| GOES-R is engaging users early in the process through Proving Ground and NOAA testbed activities, simulated data sets, scientific and user conferences, and other communication and outreach efforts. » Click here for user training information. |
| What is the Proving Ground? |
The GOES-R Proving Ground engages the National Weather Service (NWS) in pre-operational demonstrations of select capabilities of GOES-R. This venture facilitates the examination and validation of new ideas, technologies, and products through the Advanced Weather Information Processing System (AWIPS).
» Learn More |
| How do NASA and NOAA support GOES-R? |
| GOES-R is a collaborative development and acquisition effort between NASA and NOAA. The GOES-R Program includes two projects: The Flight Project, managed by NASA, and the Ground Segment Project, managed by NOAA. |
| Why is space weather important? |
| Communications, transportation, and electrical power systems can be disrupted and damaged by space weather storms. Exposure to radiation can threaten astronauts and commercial air travelers alike, and has affected the evolution of life on Earth. Geomagnetic storms and other space weather phenomena pose a serious threat to all space operations, and can result in total mission failure. |
| Can I receive GRB data with my current system? |
| Users must either acquire new systems to receive GRB or upgrade components of their existing GVAR systems. At a minimum, GVAR systems will require new receive antenna hardware, signal demodulation hardware, and computer hardware/software system resources to ingest the extended magnitude of GOES-R GRB data. |
| Will the products based on the ABI provide an adequate substitute for legacy sounder products? |
| Yes. Adequate substitute products can be generated from ABI data in conjunction with information from short-term numerical model forecasts. |
| Will the products based on the ABI provide an adequate substitute for legacy sounder products? |
| Yes. Adequate substitute products can be generated from ABI data in conjunction with information from short-term numerical model forecasts. |
| What is the Remote Backup Unit (RBU)? |
| It is the remote back-up facility from which NOAA will command and control the GOES-R satellites in the event the primary satellite operating locations (NSOF & WCDAS) become disabled. It will include the components, antennas, and ground infrastructure needed to communicate with the GOES-R satellites to control the spacecraft and capture the telemetry and science data from the instruments. This site will be able to perform all of the operational functions in case of a failover scenario at the NSOF and/or the WCDAS ground segment facilities. The RBU is located at the I-79 Technology Park Research Center in Fairmont, West Virginia. » Learn More |
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