Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites—R Series
A collaborative NOAA & NASA program

November 12, 2024: GOES-19 Captures Extended Images of the Sun's Atmosphere:

NOAA’s newest satellite, GOES-19, has been monitoring an increasingly active sun, as we enter solar maximum of Solar Cycle 25. The GOES-19 Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI) and a brand-new Compact Coronagraph (CCOR-1) are now observing the sun and its influence on Earth. Recently, the GOES-19 SUVI operated in a special mode, called “extended coronal imaging (ECI).” Typically, SUVI capture’s the sun’s activity in six types of extreme ultraviolet light, each showing different temperatures on the sun. During ECI, SUVI captured images slightly off-center from the sun, using two of these light types (171 Å and 195 Å). By doing this, scientists can create three-panel mosaic images that reveal more of the sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the middle corona. This extended view helps connect the details in SUVI images with the new CCOR-1 images. As GOES-19 undergoes post-launch testing before becoming NOAA’s operational GOES East satellite in spring 2025, its data should be considered preliminary and non-operational. Once operational, the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) will use data from both CCOR-1 and SUVI to issue early warnings and improve the accuracy of forecasts, protecting vital infrastructure from space weather threats.

October 29, 2024: NOAA Shares First Imagery from GOES-19 SUVI Instrument

On Oct. 29, 2024, NOAA shared the first imagery from the GOES-19 Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI). The GOES-19 SUVI, which launched on June 25, 2024, began observing the sun on Sept. 24, 2024. On Oct. 3, 2024, the GOES-19 SUVI captured an X9 solar flare, the most powerful flare so far in the current solar cycle. The sun’s 11-year activity cycle has entered the solar maximum period, meaning phenomena such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections are occurring more frequently than during other parts of the solar cycle. SUVI monitors the sun in the extreme ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to watch for hazardous space weather that could affect Earth.

October 17, 2024: NOAA Releases Initial Imagery from the GOES-19 Lightning Mapper

On Oct. 17, 2024, NOAA shared initial imagery from the GOES-19 lightning Mapper. The GOES-19 Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) instrument, launched on June 25, 2024, is now continuously observing lightning over the Western Hemisphere. Recently, the GOES-19 GLM detected and monitored lightning activity in two extremely hazardous hurricanes – Helene and Milton. Lightning activity in the outer rainbands and eyewalls of these hurricanes was associated with rapid intensification. Frequent lightning outside the Hurricane Milton’s core was associated with intense rain bands that produced widespread flash flooding and tornadoes across Florida on Oct. 9, 2024. GOES-19 is currently undergoing post-launch testing, which includes validation and calibration of its instruments, systems and data to prepare it for operations. NOAA plans for GOES-19 to replace GOES-16 as GOES East in April 2025

October 3, 2024: GOES-R/GeoXO Newsletter, April – September 2024

The GOES-R/GeoXO quarterly newsletter for April – September 2024 is now available. We successfully launched the final satellite in the GOES-R Series! Congratulations to the team for achieving this milestone! After reaching geostationary orbit on July 7, GOES-U was renamed GOES-19. Post-launch testing is underway, and I look forward to GOES-19 becoming GOES East next April. GOES-19 hosts a new space weather instrument, CCOR-1, on behalf of NOAA’s Space Weather Follow-On Program, which will observe the solar corona and provide critical data for space weather forecasting. There has also been a lot of progress on GeoXO. We selected vendors to build the spacecraft and the ACX, OCX and LMX instruments and are on track to complete the Mission Definition Review in late 2024.

September 24, 2024: NOAA Shares First Data from GOES-19 EXIS Instrument

The Extreme Ultraviolet and X-ray Irradiance Sensors (EXIS) onboard NOAA’s GOES-19 satellite are powered on, performing well and observing the sun. On Sept. 14 2024, EXIS observed an X-class “extreme” solar flare that erupted from an active region of the sun that had just rotated into Earth’s view. Solar flares are huge eruptions of energy on the sun and often produce clouds of plasma traveling more than a million miles per hour. When these plasma clouds reach Earth, they can cause radio communications blackouts, disruptions to electric power grids, errors in GPS navigation, and hazards to satellites and astronauts. This particular flare resulted in aurorae visible as far south as Texas. EXIS, with its multiple sensors, can observe and quantify the light from solar flares and help determine in real-time whether a flare will affect us on Earth. EXIS data will provide NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center with early indications of impending space weather storms so forecasters can issue alerts, watches and warnings.

September 18, 2024: NOAA Debuts First Imagery from GOES-19

On Sept. 18, 2024, NOAA shared the first images of the Western Hemisphere from its GOES-19 satellite. The satellite’s Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) instrument recently observed a number of weather events, environmental phenomena, and striking views of Earth. Wildfires in the Midwest and the Amazon blanketed nearby areas with smoke. Storms flared up over the Southeast and a low-pressure system over Canada brought severe weather. Tropical Storm Francine formed in the Gulf of Mexico and quickly developed into a hurricane, making landfall in Louisiana. GOES-19 also captured mesmerizing von Kármán vortices around Guadalupe island, cloud streets over Virginia, and cumulus clouds over the Midwest. GOES-19 is currently undergoing post-launch testing, which includes validation and calibration of its instruments, systems and data to prepare it for operations. NOAA plans for GOES-19 to replace GOES-16 as GOES-East in April 2025.

September 13, 2024: Earth from Orbit: Hurricane Francine Slams Northern Gulf Coast

On Sept. 11, 2024, NOAA satellites monitored Hurricane Francine as it made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane. Francine developed into a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico on Sept. 9, as the historical peak of Atlantic hurricane season approached. The storm brought flash flooding and caused widespread power outages in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. GOES-16 (GOES-East) watched in near real-time as Francine developed into a tropical storm and intensified into a hurricane. The satellite provided a detailed look of the storm and monitored cloud top cooling and lightning activity within the hurricane.

September 4, 2024: NOAA Shares First Data from GOES-19 SEISS Instrument

The Space Environment In-Situ Suite (SEISS) instrument onboard NOAA's GOES-19 satellite on June 25, 2024, is now sending radiation data back to Earth. Data collected from SEISS over the three-day time period from August 23–25, 2024, show a number of radiation belt disturbances. The radiation belts are regions of space around Earth filled with energetic electrons and protons that can damage or interfere with satellite electronics. The GOES-19 SEISS Magnetospheric Particle Sensor - High Energy observed several large dropouts followed by rapid increases in the radiation belt electron and proton fluxes during these disturbances. Following the rapid increases, MPS-HI observed periodic "drift echoes" (short duration flux enhancements), most clearly in the three lowest-energy proton channels (96 keV, 138 keV, and 193 keV traces), as these enhanced fluxes repeatedly drifted around the Earth and passed by the GOES-19 satellite. Once GOES-19 assumes its operational role as NOAA’s GOES-East satellite, the Space Weather Prediction Center will use GOES-19’s SEISS data to issue solar radiation storm and radiation belt alerts.

August 22, 2024: Earth from Orbit: Hurricane Ernesto

On Aug. 14, 2024, NOAA satellites watched Tropical Storm Ernesto intensify into a hurricane. The storm brought strong winds and flooding to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico before moving northward. As it traveled northward over the Atlantic Ocean toward Bermuda, Ernesto intensified into a Category 2 hurricane. On Aug. 17, Hurricane Ernesto made landfall in Bermuda as a Category 1 hurricane. Hurricane Ernesto also caused dangerous swells and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast. GOES-16 monitored the storm as it developed and intensified in near real-time, helping forecasters determine what areas would be impacted. Infrared imagery from GOES-16 indicated what areas of the hurricane were the most intense. The GOES-16 Geostationary Lightning Mapper also captured lightning activity within the storm.

August 15, 2024 : Earth From Orbit: A Look Back at Hurricane Debby

In early August 2024, NOAA satellites tracked Debby, a storm that impacted Florida’s Big Bend region near Steinhatchee before moving up the East Coast, causing widespread flooding and damaging winds as far north as New York state with numerous destructive tornadoes along its path. NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite monitored and tracked the storm in near real-time as it developed and moved northward. GOES-16 imagery revealed details such as cloud top cooling, winds and lightning activity, which help estimate a storm’s intensity.

August 13, 2024 : NOAA Shares First Data From GOES-19 Magnetometer

The Goddard Magnetometer (GMAG) instrument, launched onboard NOAA’s GOES-19 satellite on June 25, 2024, is now transmitting magnetic field measurements down to Earth. On July 23, 2024, the GOES-19 GMAG captured a space weather phenomenon known as electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves. These waves play a significant role in controlling the levels of dangerous energetic particles that can cause damage to satellites and harm astronauts. GMAG space weather products can help to improve forecasts of the likelihood of elevated levels of dangerous energetic particles.

August 1, 2024 : Earth from Orbit: NOAA Satellite Monitor Wildfires

Roughly 100 wildfires are raging out of control across the western United States and hundreds more are burning in Canada, destroying homes, forcing evacuations, and affecting air quality. NOAA satellites have been closely monitoring these blazes, including California’s Park Fire, which is currently the largest active wildfire in the U.S. The Park Fire, which started on July 24, 2024, is believed to have been ignited by arson. A suspect has been arrested, accused of pushing a burning car into a gully, sparking the blaze. As of Aug. 1, the fire has consumed 392,480 acres across Butte, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama counties. Fueled by very dry grass and brush, and driven by strong winds, the fire is only 18% contained.

July 19, 2024 : Earth from Orbit: Severe Thunderstorms Race Through the Midwest

At the end of a humid day in the Midwest, GOES East watched as a derecho ripped through the region on July 15. The storm system developed and moved east across Iowa before reaching Illinois, Indiana and southwest Michigan. The Chicago National Weather Service office confirmed the derecho spawned at least 19 tornadoes in the Chicagoland area. GOES East saw the storms grow in size and intensity over Iowa. The Advanced Baseline Imager onboard GOES East captured infrared imagery revealing the structure of the storm and where it was the most intense. The Geostationary Lightning Mapper on GOES East also measured lightning within the storm system.

July 11, 2024 : Earth from Orbit: Hurricane Beryl Kicks Off 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season

Hurricane Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, rapidly strengthened to a Category 5 storm unusually early in the year. This explosive strengthening was fueled in part by exceptionally warm ocean temperatures. Beryl first formed as a tropical depression on June 28, 2024, with winds of 35 mph; within the first 24 hours, the storm rapidly intensified into a hurricane with winds of 75 mph. This was the farthest east that a hurricane has formed in the month of June. In the following 24 hours, Beryl underwent another instance of rapid intensification becoming an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane. At that point Beryl became the first Category 4 hurricane to form in the month of June. On July 2, 2024, Beryl became the earliest Category 5 hurricane observed in the Atlantic on record and only the second Category 5 hurricane to occur in July.

July 7, 2024 : GOES-U Reaches Geostationary Orbit, Now Designated GOES-19

On July 7, 2024, GOES-U executed its final engine burn, placing the satellite in geostationary orbit 22,236 miles above Earth. Upon reaching this milestone, GOES-U was renamed GOES-19. GOES satellites are designated with a letter prior to launch and a number once they achieve geostationary orbit. NOAA’s GOES-U satellite launched on June 25, 2024, lifting off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The satellite launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Space Launch Complex 39A. The launch was managed by NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy Space Center.

June 25, 2024: NOAA’s GOES-U Heads to Orbit for Historic Mission

GOES-U, the latest of NOAA’s four advanced geostationary satellites, soared into orbit on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket at 5:26 p.m. EDT from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At 10:18 p.m., mission managers confirmed the spacecraft’s solar arrays successfully deployed, and the spacecraft was operating on its own power. GOES-U will take about two weeks to reach its geostationary orbit. Once there, the satellite will be renamed GOES-19. On board GOES-U is a suite of seven instruments for collecting advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements, providing real-time mapping of lightning activity, and detecting approaching space weather hazards. Also on board for the first time is the compact coronagraph that will observe the sun’s outermost layer, called the corona, for large explosions of plasma that could produce geomagnetic solar storms.

June 20, 2024: NASA Completes Flight Readiness Review for GOES-U Mission

NASA, NOAA, SpaceX, and GOES-U mission managers met on June 20 to conduct a Flight Readiness Review at NASA’S Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During the review, teams provided an update on the mission status and certified the readiness to proceed with final launch preparation activities.

June 18, 2024: From GOES to GeoXO: Past Highlights to Future Horizons

For nearly 50 years, NOAA and NASA have partnered to develop NOAA’s geostationary satellites as part of the most sophisticated weather-observing, environmental monitoring, and space weather monitoring satellite system in the world. When NOAA’s GOES-U satellite is launched, it will be the fourth and final satellite in the GOES-R Series, and a bridge to a new age of advanced satellite technology – GeoXO. A new video, “From GOES to GeoXO: Past Highlights to Future Horizons,” offers a retrospective of the GOES legacy and a look to the future with GeoXO.

June 15, 2024: GOES-U Transported to Launch Complex 39A

On June 15, 2024, GOES-U, encapsulated in its protective payload fairing, arrived at NASA Kennedy and SpaceX’s hangar at the spaceport’s Launch Complex 39A. Crews began transporting the satellite from the Astrotech Space Operations Facility in Titusville, Florida, on June 14, with the operation finishing early on June 15. The next mission milestone includes connecting the encapsulated GOES-U to the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket that will launch it into space, ahead of rolling the stack out to the launch pad.

June 13, 2024: GOES-U Encapsulated in Rocket Fairing

On June 13, 2024, technicians encapsulated the 20-foot-tall GOES-U satellite inside two payload fairing halves in preparation for connecting it to the Falcon Heavy rocket that will launch the satellite into space. During the ascent phase of the launch, the fairing halves will protect GOES-U from aerodynamic pressure and heating. Once GOES-U no longer requires this protection, approximately four minutes after liftoff, the halves will be jettisoned and return to Earth, where SpaceX crews will recover them for use on future missions.

June 6, 2024: Prelaunch Media Viewing of NOAA's GOES-U Satellite

On June 6, 2024, NASA and NOAA hosted a media availability to view and photograph the GOES-U satellite at the Astrotech Space Operations payload processing facility in Titusville, Florida. Subject matter experts from NASA, NOAA, Lockheed Martin, and L3Harris Technologies provided a mission overview and answered questions about the satellite’s capabilities to assist meteorologists with predicting, observing, and tracking hazardous weather events on Earth and in space. The opportunity provided media with a last look at the final weather-observing and environmental monitoring satellite in NOAA’s GOES-R Series before technicians prepare it for launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. View photos and video of media day.

June 4, 2024: GOES-U Art Challenge Selections Announced

Last month, we challenged kids to draw how they imagine lightning looks either within the clouds or striking the ground, from above the sky or from their window. The GOES-U satellite will help scientists “see” lightning and predict where it will strike, helping meteorologists forecast the path of hurricanes, how strong severe thunderstorms can become, and when tornadoes will form. Thank you to everyone who participated! We chose 23 selections to feature.

May 21, 2024: Earth from Orbit: Ocean Color Observations

Earth-observing satellites can see many different things, from changing seasons, weather patterns, and land features. From their unique view, satellites can also observe the deep swirling hues and colors of the ocean. With data from NASA’s PACE mission now available, NOAA and NASA are collaborating to develop applications for monitoring various indicators of ecosystem health. NOAA is also preparing for a more advanced Ocean Color instrument (OCX) to be flown on the future GeoXO mission. Having an ocean color instrument on a geostationary satellite such as GeoXO will allow continuous monitoring of a specific area. Additionally, its higher resolution imagery will improve observations of water clarity, chlorophyll concentrations, and help distinguish different types of phytoplankton. GeoXO will begin operating in the early 2030s, taking over after the GOES-R series reaches the end of its operational lifetime.

May 1, 2024: GOES-U Art Challenge

Have you ever watched a lightning storm from your window at home? Did you know that scientists can use weather satellites to watch lightning from above, too? On June 25, 2024, NOAA will be launching its latest weather satellite called GOES-U (GOES is short for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite). GOES-U will be the fourth and final satellite in the GOES-R group of satellites that keep an eye on Earth’s weather from space. GOES-U will also help scientists “see” lightning and predict where it will strike.

Challenge: Draw how you imagine lightning to look, either within the clouds or striking the ground, from above the sky or from your window. Use any materials you would like – crayons, markers, pencils, pens, aluminum foil, paint, yarn, or anything else you find. The sky's the limit!

The art challenge is open through May 31, 2024. Selected art submissions will appear online and in social media the first week of June. Visit our art challenge webpage for instructions for submitting your art.

April 19, 2024: Earth from Orbit: Celebrating Earth Day with NOAA Satellites

Throughout history, humans have wondered what Earth looked like from above. The advent of satellites changed our perspective dramatically, though early imagery was often blurry and lacked detail. Today, thanks to decades of technological advancements and innovation, the quality and resolution of satellite imagery has significantly improved. Satellites from NOAA and other organizations around the world capture vital information that help us stay safe, while also sharing the beauty of our planet from afar. For us, every day is Earth Day!

April 12, 2024: Earth from Orbit: NOAA Satellites View Total Solar Eclipse

On April 8, 2024, the moon moved directly between the Earth and sun, completely blocking the sun’s light and causing a total solar eclipse. During this event, the moon’s shadow passed over parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada, and millions of people were treated to a celestial show where the sky darkened as if it were dawn or dusk throughout its path of totality. NOAA satellites play a crucial role in observing solar eclipses and their effects. GOES-16 and GOES-18 watched the moon’s shadow pass over the Earth. The satellites also captured the effects of the eclipse shadow on surface weather, including the drop in land and air surface temperature, and dissipation of clouds. Although solar eclipses happen all over the Earth about twice a year, the next total solar eclipse is not predicted to occur in the United States until March 30, 2033, where it will be seen from northwestern Alaska. Another will occur across parts of Canada, Montana, and the Dakotas on Aug. 23, 2044. However, it won’t be until Aug. 12, 2045, when one will cross the contiguous United States from California to Florida.

April 11, 2024: First Quarter 2024 GOES-R/GeoXO Newsletter

The GOES-R/GeoXO quarterly newsletter for January – March 2024 is now available. Excitement is building for the GOES-U launch, now scheduled for June 25, 2024. SpaceX has repaired the liquid oxygen leak found during testing of the center core booster and launch preparations are back on track. The team is preparing for satellite fueling and encapsulation in the rocket fairing, conducting mission tests and rehearsals, and preparing for the remaining pre-launch reviews. Meanwhile, we are also working hard on GeoXO. The team conducted a successful kickoff meeting for the Sounder and work continues on the Imager. Evaluation boards are busy reviewing proposals for the spacecraft and the OCX, LMX, and ACX instruments. We plan to award the remaining GeoXO contracts by fall.

March 26, 2024: Earth from Orbit: NOAA Satellites Detect Severe Solar Storm

On March 23–24, 2024, NOAA’s GOES-16 and GOES-18 satellites, and others operated by international partners, observed numerous flares erupt from the sun, including a powerful X-class solar flare. Additionally, a surge of extremely hot plasma, known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), raced toward Earth, resulting in geomagnetic storms and auroras. The EXIS instruments onboard both GOES-16 and GOES-18 detected the flare. The satellites’ SUVI instruments viewed the flare and the initiation of the CME. Solar activity is expected to increase as Solar Cycle 25 reaches its peak, which is expected this year. NOAA and partner satellites will continue to watch for increased solar activity.

March 26, 2024: GOES-U Mission Overview Video

NOAA is preparing for a milestone satellite launch in 2024. GOES-U will be the fourth and final satellite in NOAA’s latest generation of geostationary operational environmental satellites called the GOES-R Series—the nation’s most advanced weather-observing and environmental monitoring satellite system. Like the three other GOES-R Series satellites already in orbit, GOES-U will provide near real-time, high-resolution imagery that will deliver critical information for weather forecasts, severe weather prediction, lightning detection, and space weather forecasts. GOES U will also carry something new when it launches – a critical space weather instrument called the Compact Coronagraph-1, or CCOR-1. Being able to monitor the sun’s corona helps scientists detect and characterize coronal mass ejections that can spark geomagnetic storms here on Earth– the costliest type of space weather events that can cause widespread damage to power grids, satellites, and communication and navigation systems.

March 26, 2024: NASA, SpaceX Target New Launch Date for NOAA Weather Satellite

NASA 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. The new launch date allowed time for teams to fully repair and test the Falcon Heavy core booster after a liquid oxygen leak was identified during routine new booster testing in February. NASA and SpaceX teams have resumed preparation of the GOES-U launch. GOES-U will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

March 7, 2024: Earth from Orbit: Fires Rage Across Texas Panhandle

Since late February, NOAA satellites have been tracking wildfires that spread through the Texas Panhandle. The largest wildfire in the state’s history broke out on Feb. 26 and quickly spread, fueled by dry, windy conditions. By Mar. 4, the blaze, known as the Smokehouse Creek fire, had become one of the largest fires in U.S. history. GOES-16 (GOES East) observed these fires in near-real time. This geostationary satellite keeps constant watch over the same geographic area over time, and helps to locate fires, detect changes in a fire’s behavior, and predict its direction. By combining data from multiple channels on its Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) instrument, both a fire’s hot spot and associated smoke plume can be visualized.

March 1, 2024: Celebrating Women in GEO

In honor of Women’s History Month, a new web feature turns the spotlight on women in NOAA’s Office of Geostationary Earth Orbit Observations. Celebrating Women in GEO tells the stories of women who are driving innovation and who have been instrumental within its geostationary satellite programs. These remarkable individuals exemplify the spirit of innovation, dedication, and leadership, and are helping to shape the future of how we monitor our constantly changing world. Ultimately, the work these women do helps safeguard lives, protect communities, and preserve our planet’s vital natural resources. Their contributions are also inspiring future generations to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

March 1, 2024: Earth from Orbit: Great Lakes Ice Reaches Historic Low

As we leave meteorological winter behind, NOAA satellites have been monitoring the extent of ice coverage in the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes typically see peak ice coverage in late February to early March. Ice plays an important role in the ecosystems, economy, and coastal resilience of the Great Lakes. In 2024, ice coverage reached a historic low. A number of factors have contributed to the historic low this year, such as a strong El Niño and well above-average temperatures this winter. NOAA satellites have observed little ice on the Great Lakes this year.

February 27, 2024: Launch of GOES-U Satellite Delayed

NASA and SpaceX are now targeting no earlier than May 2024 for the launch of NOAA's GOES-U satellite. The new date allows for additional testing and preparation of a new Falcon Heavy center core booster after a liquid oxygen leak was discovered during routine new booster testing. GOES-U is the fourth and final satellite in the GOES-R Series of advanced geostationary satellites.

February 8, 2024: Earth from Orbit: GOES-U Arrives at Kennedy Space Center

The latest video in the Earth from Orbit series highlights GOES-U’s arrival at Kennedy Space Center last month. After being packed in a high-tech shipping container that acts as a mobile clean room, GOES-U caught a ride aboard a C-5 Super Galaxy aircraft from Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After landing, the satellite was taken to Astrotech Space Operations, where it was removed from its shipping container, inspected, and placed onto a test stand. GOES-U will now undergo final preparations for a spring 2024 launch from Kennedy Space Center, where it will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

January 23, 2024: GOES-U Arrives at Kennedy Space Center

NOAA’s GOES-U, the fourth and final satellite in the GOES-R Series of advanced weather-observing and environmental monitoring satellites, arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 23, 2024, to begin final preparations for its upcoming launch. Shipping a satellite is no small feat. GOES-U is the size of a small school bus and weighs over 6,000 pounds! The spacecraft team at Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colorado, where GOES-U was built, packed the satellite in a high-tech shipping container that protected its sensitive instruments and acted as a mobile clean room during transport. GOES-U was then driven to Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, Colorado, and loaded on the C-5M Super Galaxy cargo transport that carried it to Florida. GOES-U safely landed at the NASA Launch and Landing Facility airstrip at Kennedy Space Center and was transported to the Astrotech Space Operations spacecraft processing facility in nearby Titusville, where it will go through a series of electrical tests to confirm it is working properly and mechanical configurations to prepare it for launch. GOES-U is scheduled to launch no earlier than April 30, 2024.

January 17, 2024: GOES-U: Road to Launch

NOAA’s GOES-U, the fourth and final satellite in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) – R Series, the Western Hemisphere’s most advanced weather-observing and environmental monitoring system, is entering the final stage of preparations before liftoff. NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than April 30 for the launch of GOES-U on a Falcon Heavy rocket. The GOES-U team has spent years building the instruments and spacecraft, integrating all the satellite’s components, and conducting rigorous testing to ensure it can withstand the harsh launch conditions and successfully take up residence 22,236 miles above Earth. Before that happens, the spacecraft must complete several final milestones. Learn more about GOES-U’s road to launch.

January 11, 2024: Fourth Quarter 2023 GOES-R/GeoXO Newsletter

The GOES-R/GeoXO quarterly newsletter for October – December 2023 is now available. Happy New Year! It’s a very exciting time for the GEO Program! We are gearing up to launch the last of the GOES-R Series satellites. GOES-U will soon ship to Kennedy Space Center and begin final preparations for its planned launch in April. GeoXO also had a successful quarter. The final development RFP, for the ACX instrument, was released in October. Evaluation boards are busy reviewing proposals for the spacecraft and the OCX, LMX, and ACX instruments. GOES-16 and GOES-18 continue to provide critical data to keep us informed of and safe from severe weather and environmental hazards. The program is looking forward to more GEO successes in 2024!

January 4, 2024: Earth from Orbit: 2023 Satellite Imagery: A Year in Review

NOAA satellites see our planet from a unique and captivating perspective. Every year, they capture the beauty and wrath of Mother Nature unfolding beneath them—devastating hurricanes, raging wildfires, erupting volcanoes—as well as the changing seasons, ocean color, nighttime lights, and more. The view of NOAA satellites isn’t just limited to Earth; they also capture images of our moon and the sun as we navigate our cosmic journey. As we head into the new year, take a look back at some satellite imagery highlights from 2023.

December 8, 2023: Earth from Orbit: Atmospheric Rivers Drench the Pacific Northwest

NOAA satellites monitored a series of storms from an atmospheric river that impacted the Pacific Northwest in early December 2023. On Dec. 4, the storms brought record-breaking rainfall, flooding, and significant snowfall to some areas. Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow belts of moisture that move through the atmosphere. GOES-18 (GOES West) tracked the band of moisture as it moved over the Pacific Ocean and into the Pacific Northwest in near real-time. NOAA satellites provide critical data for forecasting atmospheric weather river events and monitoring the weather conditions they bring.

November 28, 2023: Earth from Orbit: 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season Wraps Up

NOAA satellites constantly monitor the ocean for tropical activity. As the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season comes to a close, we’re looking back at this above-normal season. This season was very active in terms of the number of named storms, ranking fourth for most named storms in a year. The Atlantic basin saw 20 named storms in 2023. Seven of these were hurricanes and three intensified to major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale). An average season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. Although the season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, tropical and subtropical cyclone formation can occur at any time and NOAA satellites will be keeping watch.

November 02, 2023: Earth from Orbit: Hurricane Otis Causes Catastrophic Damage

On Oct. 25, 2023, NOAA satellites monitored Hurricane Otis as it hit Mexico’s southern Pacific coast near Acapulco as a Category 5 storm. Otis was the strongest hurricane in the Eastern Pacific to make landfall in the satellite era. The hurricane brought storm surge, flooding, mudslides, and strong winds to the coast and caused widespread damage and fatalities in the region. GOES East and GOES West watched in near real-time as Otis rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane within a 24-hour period. The Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) measured lightning within the eyewall while it was rapidly intensifying. Infrared imagery showed the structure of the storm as it developed and intensified before making landfall.

October 19, 2023: Earth from Orbit: NOAA Satellites View Annular Eclipse

On Oct. 14, NOAA satellites caught an annular eclipse as it traversed parts of North, Central, and South America. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon crosses between the Earth and the sun, and casts a shadow. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon is farther away from Earth when they pass each other. In this event, the moon does not completely block out the sun and causes a ring of fire to appear. NOAA’s GOES satellites viewed the moon’s shadow as it moved across the Earth in near real-time. The Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI) onboard GOES East also captured the eclipse. SUVI observed the moon crossing in front of the sun. As the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse approaches, NOAA satellites will be waiting to capture the event.

October 12, 2023: Third Quarter 2023 GOES-R/GeoXO Newsletter

The GOES-R/GeoXO quarterly newsletter for July – September 2023 is now available. The GOES-R and GeoXO programs accomplished a lot this quarter. GOES-U completed environmental testing and is preparing for its Pre-Shipment Review at the end of October. The ground, flight, and mission operations teams are busy conducting rehearsals and readiness exercises to prepare for the April 2024 launch. We awarded the second GeoXO development contract to build the Sounder and released three development RFPs this quarter – for the Lightning Mapper and Ocean Color instruments and the spacecraft. Also, the GeoXO Imager had a successful System Requirements Review/System Definition Review and is proceeding to the preliminary design phase. And we welcomed our new deputy program director, Brian Hall.

October 06, 2023: Earth from Orbit: Heavy Rains Cause Flooding in New York City

The remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia over the Atlantic Ocean combined with a mid-latitude system arriving from the west unleashed more than eight inches of rain in parts of the New York metropolitan area on Sept. 28-29, 2023. NOAA satellites monitored conditions as torrential rain led to flood water coursing through streets and into basements, schools, subways, and vehicles throughout the nation’s most populous city. Data from GOES and JPSS were also used to produce flood maps that helped to determine the impact of the storm – where flooding was happening, what the extent was, how long it would last, and what damage occurred.

September 14, 2023: NOAA’s GOES-U Completes Environmental Testing

GOES-U, the fourth and final satellite in NOAA’s GOES-R Series of advanced geostationary satellites, recently completed rigorous testing to ensure it can withstand the harsh conditions of launch and maintain functionality in orbit 22,236 miles above Earth. The testing process spanned nearly a year and was conducted by Lockheed Martin and SpaceX personnel at the Lockheed Martin facility in Littleton, Colorado, where the satellite was built. GOES-U is on track for an April 2024 launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a Falcon Heavy launch vehicle.

August 24, 2023: Earth from Orbit: 2023 Hurricane Activity Ramps Up

NOAA satellites have been monitoring increased tropical activity in the Atlantic and Pacific, with five named storms developing in the last week. As NOAA satellites were monitoring Tropical Storm Hilary as it brought torrential rainfall, flooding, and mudslides to Southern California, a series of storms were forming in the Atlantic. Within the span of 18 hours, three tropical storms formed—Emily, Franklin, and Gert. While Emily and Gert were relatively short-lived and dissipated over the ocean, Franklin, which formed east of the Leeward Islands, made landfall in the Dominican Republic on August 23, bringing heavy rains to Hispaniola. By August 22, another tropical storm, Harold, formed in the western Gulf of Mexico, making it the fourth Atlantic named storm to form within 39 hours. Harold made landfall on San Padre Island, Texas on August 22, and was the first Atlantic storm this season to do so in the U.S. August 20 marked the beginning of what is typically the most active portion of the Atlantic hurricane season. Historically, more than 85 percent of all major (Category 3, 4, and 5) Atlantic hurricanes form after this date. As the Atlantic and Pacific hurricane seasons continue, NOAA satellites remain our watchful eyes in the sky, providing critical information for hurricane forecasting, tracking, and intensity estimation.

August 11, 2023: NOAA Releases Updated 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook

On Aug. 10, NOAA updated its 2023 Atlantic hurricane season outlook. NOAA is now expecting above normal activity in the Atlantic. El Niño and record sea surface temperatures are contributing factors. The update includes an increase in named storms to 14-21, with 6-11 developing into hurricanes. Of those, 2-5 are anticipated to be major hurricanes – Category 3 or higher. The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season started early on Jan. 16 with an unnamed subtropical storm that formed southeast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Since the first official day of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, June 1, there have been four named storms: Arlene, Bret, Cindy and Don. Out of the four, only one strengthened into a hurricane. Hurricane Don developed into a Category 1 hurricane on July 22 in the northern Atlantic. NOAA satellites provide critical data for hurricane forecasting as well as advanced technology to track the storms—their location, movement, and intensity. The satellites provide a detailed look at storm properties, specific features of a hurricane’s eye, wind estimates, and lightning activity. As peak hurricane season approaches, NOAA satellites will be watching for the development of these storms.

July 28, 2023: Earth from Orbit: Fires Blaze Across Western U.S.

As record-breaking heat continues to scorch parts of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, NOAA satellites are monitoring fires in the western U.S., which are sending plumes of smoke into the atmosphere. As of July 26, 2023, a total of 39 fires have burned 201,637 acres in nine states, including Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, California, Texas, Montana, and Washington. NOAA satellites are tracking the fires and their impact. GOES-18 (GOES West) identified hot spots as they ignited and monitored the movement of smoke from the fires in near real-time. GOES-18 also helped determine fire size and temperature.

July 21, 2023: Earth from Orbit: NOAA Satellites Monitor Severe Weather and Smoke

As catastrophic flooding impacted the Northeast, skies across the region and particularly along the central and eastern U.S. have also been affected by heavy smoke from wildfires burning across Canada that has continued to drift southward. NOAA satellites monitored conditions as the events unfolded. GOES-16 measured water vapor that was transported in the atmosphere, and monitored the storms that drenched the Northeast in near real-time. GOES-16 and 18 tracked the intense smoke from Canadian wildfires as it moved into the central and eastern U.S., triggering air quality alerts. From fires to floods, NOAA satellites help warn us of approaching hazards.

July 13, 2023: Second Quarter 2023 GOES-R/GeoXO Newsletter

The GOES-R/GeoXO quarterly newsletter for April – June 2023 is now available. It was, as ever, a busy quarter for us. The GOES-R ground system server replacement effort concluded and we awarded the follow-on ground sustainment contract. We continued environmental testing of the GOES-U satellite and the mission integration efforts with the Falcon Heavy launch vehicle. On the GeoXO front, work on the imager development contract began and we finished the remaining Phase A Studies. The departures of 30+ year GOES alumni John Fiorello and our longtime DPM Ed Grigsby, and the sadly too-soon passing of our Review Manager Jonathan Gal-Edd are reminders to value and enjoy the colleagues and friends we make along the way.

June 30, 2023: Extreme Heat and Severe Weather Plague Parts of North America

NOAA satellites have been watching the effects of a heat dome that settled over Texas and parts of Mexico since early June 2023. The heat dome is expected to spread northward and persist through July 4 with no relief in sight. A heat dome is a ridge of high pressure that traps hot air. While the heat dome is causing record-breaking temperatures in the south, it has also led to severe weather. The edge of the heat dome meeting with cooler air can trigger severe thunderstorms, tornados, and high winds. The NOAA/NASA Suomi NPP and NOAA-20 satellites measured land surface temperature, revealing the extent of the heat dome. Data collected by the satellites is used within models such as the Global Forecast System to accurately predict conditions. Meanwhile, GOES East watched the heat dome interact with cooler air in near real-time as is seen with water vapor imagery. As these explosive storms developed along the edge of the dome and traveled eastward, GOES tracked their movement. GOES East also measured lightning within the storms and infrared imagery from the satellite revealed the intensity of the storms.

June 21, 2023: Earth from Orbit: Summer Solstice 2023

June 21, 2023, marks the start of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The summer solstice is the moment the hemisphere reaches its greatest tilt toward the sun. NOAA’s GOES-16 and -18 satellites constantly observe the same region of Earth, allowing a view of the terminator as it moves across the Western Hemisphere. The terminator is the edge between the shadows of nightfall and the sunlight of dusk and dawn. The slope of the terminator curve changes with the seasons. The summer solstice is the longest day, and shortest night, of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

June 20, 2023: NOAA Satellites Tracked Historic Levels of Harmful Smoke, Impacting Millions in the Eastern U.S.

NOAA satellites, including GOES-16, provided critical data for air quality forecasters when wildfires, burning near Quebec, Canada, sent billowing plumes of smoke over the eastern United States. The satellite data allowed NOAA scientists to estimate that more than 86 million people experienced fine particulate pollution levels higher than the federal health standard. During the early-June episode, NOAA satellite observations of the smoke helped forecasters issue air quality alerts to protect public health. GOES data of fine particulate pollution are increasingly being used in nowcasting mode to provide warnings to the public.

June 20, 2023: Lightning Detection: From Ground to Sky

Lightning may be stunning, but it is also a deadly, destructive force. Meteorologists have studied lightning for centuries, working out its behavior and developing ways to detect lightning strikes. Tools and techniques for lightning detection have come a long way since Benjamin Franklin tested his lightning rod, shifting our view of this powerful severe weather from the ground to the sky. Satellites have allowed us to detect and map lightning storms like never before – from space. The GOES-R Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) is the first optical lightning detector on a satellite in geostationary orbit. NOAA began using the GLM in March 2017. In July 2018, the National Weather Service started including its data in the determination of operational weather forecasts.

June 12, 2023: WeatherSats Augmented Reality App

Learn about the JPSS and GOES-R satellites that monitor extreme weather and climate change in the new WeatherSats immersive AR app. It challenges you to complete a series of missions, which will start with an interactive journey into space where you’ll see the satellites orbiting Earth and view all of their instruments up close. Play at home or play the app's six challenges at the NASA Goddard Visitor Center! Available for download to your mobile device from the Apple and Google app stores.

June 8, 2023: Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Blankets U.S.

More than 400 fires are burning across Canada, blanketing regions throughout North America with thick smoke. NOAA satellites are monitoring the smoke as it drifts across the continent. Unusually hot and dry weather triggered an early and intense start to the wildfire season in Canada and the country is on track to have the worst wildfire season on record. Recently, smoke from fires in Ontario and Quebec moved into the eastern U.S., triggering air quality alerts across the region. According to NOAA’s Aerosol Watch, the smoke caused a historic Code Red (unhealthy) daily Air Quality alert of 2.5 parts per million across New York, eastern Pennsylvania, and western Connecticut on June 6, 2023. There was even a Code Purple (very unhealthy) in some parts of New York City and Philadelphia. As of the morning of June 7, historically high fine particulate concentrations were seen further south into the Mid-Atlantic region, and reports from the ground stated limited visibility and campfire-like smells. GOES East and GOES West are tracking the billowing smoke and monitoring air quality in near real-time. JPSS satellites are collecting data to help determine the height of the smoke plume, the amount of smoke produced, and the direction it’s expected to move. Together, NOAA satellites provide critical information for detecting and tracking fires and alerting communities to poor air quality from smoke produced by the blazes.

June 2, 2023: Can Lightning Research Improve Hurricane Intensity Forecasts? A Q&A With NOAA's Dr. Stephanie Stevenson

Dr. Stephanie Stevenson is a meteorologist at the NOAA/National Weather Service National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami. Through her ground-breaking research and efforts, new applications using GOES-R Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) data are being used as guidance for NHC forecasts as well as in media and decision-support briefings. With 2023’s Atlantic Hurricane Season officially underway, NESDIS recently interviewed Dr. Stevenson to learn more about her research and what it means for the future of hurricane tracking and forecasting.

May 31, 2023: Time-lapse of Solar Cycle 25 Displays Increasing Activity on the Sun

Solar Cycle 25 has ramped up much faster than scientists predicted producing more sunspots and eruptions than experts had forecast. Tracking and predicting the sun’s solar cycles gives a rough idea of the frequency of space weather storms of all types – from radio blackouts to geomagnetic storms and solar radiation storms – and it’s used by many industries to gauge the potential impact of space weather on Earth. A new time lapse animation shows GOES-16 Solar Ultraviolet Imagery (SUVI) during Solar Cycle 25 from December 2019 through April 2023 alongside the progression of the number of sunspots. SUVI images the solar corona in six different extreme ultraviolet wavelengths. NOAA’s space weather forecasters use SUVI imagery to issue alerts and watches for space weather storms.

May 31, 2023: 2023 GOES Virtual Science Fair Top Projects Announced

The Cooperative Institute of Meteorological Satellite Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison announced the winning projects for the 2023 GOES Virtual Science Fair. During the virtual science fair, middle and high school students (grades 6-12) worked with GOES satellite data to investigate weather and natural hazards and conveyed their projects with scientific posters. High school submissions also required a short video where students explain their project, similar to a poster session at a professional conference. By offering authentic STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) engagement to a pre-college audience, this activity serves as a pipeline to society’s scientists of tomorrow and NOAA’s future workforce

May 25, 2023: Earth from Orbit: Popocatépetl Volcano Erupts in Mexico

Since May 15, 2023, NOAA satellites have been watching Mexico’s Popocatépetl Volcano exhibit activity ranging from tremors to spewing ash. Popocatépetl, Aztec for smoking mountain, is located 45 miles southeast of Mexico City. With about 25 million people living within 60 miles of Popocatépetl, it is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. Geostationary satellites, like GOES-16 and GOES-18, are the primary tool for monitoring volcanic clouds. GOES-16 observed Popocatépetl’s ash plumes in near real-time and monitored hazardous sulfur dioxide from the volcano. JPSS satellites measured smoke, ash and dust from the volcano. Together, NOAA satellites help monitor volcanoes and the risks they pose.

May 11, 2023: Earth from Orbit: Wildfires Rage in Western Canada

In early May 2023, fires ignited across western Canada due to unusually hot and dry weather. NOAA satellites watched as the fires raged, burning about one million acres. GOES-18 monitored the spread of the fires and smoke across the region. The ABI instrument on GOES-18 observed the formation of pyrocumulonimbus clouds from intense fires in Alberta. The data collected by NOAA satellites help responders forecast what areas will be impacted and manage the wildfires. As the Northern Hemisphere heats up, NOAA satellites will keep watch for wildfires.

May 11, 2023: NOAA Awards Geostationary Ground System Sustainment Services Contract

Today, NOAA awarded the Geostationary Ground Sustainment Services (GGSS) contract to L3Harris Technologies Inc. of Palm Bay, Florida. The five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract will provide sustainment services to extend the functions of the ground system that supports NOAA’s GOES-R Series. This contract provides for an indefinite quantity of supplies and services during the contract ordering period from May 11, 2023, through May 10, 2028. Individual supplies and service requirements will be defined at the task order level. The maximum value of this IDIQ contract is $275,169,157. The work will be performed at NOAA facilities located in Suitland, Maryland; College Park, Maryland; Wallops Island, Virginia; and Fairmont, West Virginia; and at the L3Harris facility in Melbourne, Florida.

May 4, 2023: Earth from Orbit: Preparing for Hurricane Season

As spring heads toward summer, NOAA satellites are ready for this year’s upcoming hurricane season. NOAA satellites monitor the conditions that spawn hurricanes and provide early warning that a storm is forming. GOES East and West monitor hurricanes as they develop and track their movements in near real-time. GOES satellites measure the temperature of cloud tops and the amount of water vapor present within a system, and also provide wind estimates. They also monitor lightning within a storm. NOAA satellites also aid emergency response to landfalling hurricanes by mapping the extent, damage and duration of flood events. Together, NOAA satellites are prepared to provide vital information to forecasters and help protect life and property throughout the 2023 hurricane season and beyond.

May 3, 2023: GOES-U Completes Solar Array Deployment Test

GOES-U, the fourth and final satellite in NOAA’s GOES-R Series, recently completed a successful test deployment of its solar array to ensure it will function properly in space. This critical test verified that the satellite's large, five-panel solar array — which is folded up when the satellite is launched — will properly deploy when GOES-U reaches geostationary orbit. GOES-U’s solar array will convert energy from the sun into electricity to power the entire satellite, including the instruments, computers, data processors, sensors, and telecommunications equipment. GOES-U is scheduled to launch in 2024.

April 28, 2023: Earth from Orbit: Large Geomagnetic Storm Hits Earth

On April 21, 2023, NOAA satellites detected a coronal mass ejection erupting from the sun, which hurled plasma at two million miles per hour toward Earth. This eruption produced a geomagnetic storm on Earth. GOES-16’s Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI) instrument observed the event as it occurred, while the DSCOVR satellite measured the solar winds the storm produced. This allowed NOAA to issue warnings for possible impacts from the storm. Geomagnetic storms can affect electrical grids, spacecraft, radio frequencies, GPS signals, and astronauts in space. On April 23, the particles reached Earth’s upper atmosphere and caused an aurora in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This is the third severe geomagnetic storm since Solar Cycle 25 began in 2019. As the sun’s activity continues to ramp up, NOAA satellites will be watching for hazardous space weather.

April 21, 2023: Earth from Orbit: Happy Earth Day 2023

Since 1970, NOAA satellites have been monitoring Earth’s weather, environment, oceans, and climate. This Earth Day, we have a lot to celebrate. Over the past year, NOAA has added two new satellites to its Earth-observing fleet and contributed an instrument to a mission that will help us have a better understanding of Earth’s physical and biological environment. On Earth Day, we celebrate the critical information NOAA satellites provide to help us stay safe and the beautiful imagery they share of our planet. They see it all: hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, lightning, fires, dust storms, smoke, fog, volcanic eruptions, vegetation, snow and ice cover, flooding, sea and land surface temperature, ocean health and more. They can even track ship traffic and power outages. At NOAA, each day is Earth Day.

April 11, 2023: First Quarter 2023 GOES-R/GeoXO Newsletter

The GOES-R/GeoXO quarterly newsletter for January – March 2023 is now available. 2023 is off to an exciting start! We are just a little over a year away from the GOES-U launch, the final launch for the GOES-R Series. GOES-U completed mechanical environments testing and will next undergo electromagnetic interference/electromagnetic compatibility testing. We held our first GOES-R summit since 2019 and had the opportunity to collaborate in person with our colleagues from across the country. The newly operational GOES-18 satellite monitored a deluge of atmospheric rivers affecting the West Coast and an increasingly active sun. On GeoXO, we took our first step into implementation, with the award of the development contract for the imager, the primary instrument on our next-generation satellite system.

March 30, 2023: Earth from Orbit: Violent Storms Tear Through the South

Beginning on March 24, 2023, NOAA satellites monitored severe storms that caused widespread damage from Texas to the Mid-Atlantic. The storms produced high winds, hail, flooding, and tornadoes. High winds and 38 tornadoes were reported when the storms moved through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. The town of Rolling Fork, Mississippi was struck by an EF-4 tornado that killed 26 people in total, injured dozens more, and damaged buildings and utilities. GOES-16 (GOES East) monitored the storm in near real-time as it barreled across the Southeast.

March 24, 2023: Earth from Orbit: More Heavy Rain, Snow, and Wind Hitting Western U.S.

After tracking a series of atmospheric rivers that have drenched California this year, NOAA satellites monitored the latest storm to begin impact the state on Mar. 19, 2023. Rain and snow triggered flash flooding, caused numerous evacuations and left over 350,000 without power. The atmospheric river fueled a mid-latitude cyclone that led to the formation of a hurricane-like eye when two low pressure areas converged over San Francisco. NOAA satellites provided vital information about airborne moisture for more accurate weather forecasts and to predict flood risks and manage water resources.

March 2, 2023: Earth from Orbit: Monumental U.S. Storm Brings Severe Winter Weather Coast to Coast

Since mid-February 2023, winter weather has impacted the continental U.S. from California to Maine. In Southern California, the storm brought blizzard conditions to the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains as well as heavy rainfall to lower elevations. As the storm system continued eastward, snow and driving winds caused road closures and drifting snow across the Plains. Further south in Kansas and Oklahoma, tornadoes downed power lines, damaged property, and caused injuries. Additional tornadoes were reported in central and northeastern Illinois. The storm also brought heavy snow to the Northeast. NOAA satellites provided complementary measurements for a complete picture of this monumental storm and played a crucial role in tracking the storms across the U.S., alerting those in harm’s way.

Feb. 21, 2023: Earth from Orbit: Tropical Cyclone Freddy Breaks Records before Lashing Madagascar

On Feb. 21, 2023, Tropical Cyclone Freddy made landfall on Madagascar. Freddy formed on Feb. 5 near Indonesia and trekked more than 4,000 miles before hitting Madagascar. Freddy is one of only four storms on record to cross the Indian Ocean from east to west. It is also the first in the Southern Hemisphere to undergo four separate rounds of rapid intensification. At its strongest, Freddy had maximum sustained winds of more than 160 miles per hour, equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane. NOAA satellites and those from our international partners monitored the storm as it traversed the Indian Ocean and made landfall in Madagascar.

Feb. 9, 2023: Earth from Orbit: NOAA Satellites Track Blazing Wildfires in Chile

At least 231 wildfires have been blazing through south-central Chile since Feb. 3, 2023. The region is experiencing a “mega drought” with a decade-long period of dry weather. NOAA satellites are monitoring the fires as hot and dry weather persists. As of Feb. 8, 231 fires have burned more than 741,315 acres of land, making it the second worst year for acreage burned in Chile. GOES-16 and GOES-18 observed the movement of smoke from the fires in near-real time, while identifying new fires. The satellites also help determine a fire’s size and temperature. NOAA-20 and Suomi NPP provide detailed information on fire conditions. The satellites can detect smaller and lower-temperature fires and track wildfires in remote regions. Together, NOAA satellites provide critical and timely information used by fire crews, first responders and air traffic controllers.

Feb. 6, 2023: Keep Love in Your Orbit with NESDIS-Themed Valentine's Day Cards

We’re spreading the love again this Valentine's Day with a new collection of satellite-themed holiday cards. Circulate and celebrate with us by sharing these cards with your Earth-bound sweetie! The sentiment GOES a long way. Download the Valentines.

Feb. 2, 2023: Earth from Orbit: Rope Clouds

On Jan. 25, 2023, NOAA satellites captured an unusually long and long-lived rope cloud produced by a cold front over the Gulf of Mexico. A rope cloud is a very long, narrow, rope-like band of cumulus cloud formations. Generally associated with a cold front or a land-sea breeze front, rope clouds tend to form at the dividing line between cooler and warmer air. In this case, the rush of cool, dense air from the cold front pushed the warm, maritime air from the Gulf of Mexico upward, allowing water vapor to condense and the cloud to form. Satellite imagery can capture rope clouds, indicating a potentially changing weather pattern.

January 25, 2023: Earth from Orbit: Atmospheric Rivers Hit the West Coast

From late Dec. 2022 into Jan. 2023, a series of nine “atmospheric rivers” dumped a record amount of rain and mountain snow across the western U.S. and Canada, hitting California particularly hard. More than 32 trillion gallons of water rained down across the state, and the moisture also pushed into much of the Intermountain West. The San Francisco Bay area experienced its wettest three-week period in 161 years. Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow belts of moisture that move through the atmosphere. They can deliver tremendous amounts of rain, and high-elevation snow. This deluge of rain can provide relief for drought-stricken areas but also trigger flash flooding and mudslides. NOAA satellites help forecast these rivers in the sky and monitor the weather conditions they bring.

January 23, 2023: NOAA satellites helped save 397 lives in 2022

NOAA satellites, which are crucial in weather and climate forecasts, helped rescue 397 people from potentially life-threatening situations throughout the U.S. and its surrounding waters in 2022. NOAA’s polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites are part of the global Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking system, or COSPAS-SARSAT, which uses a network of U.S. and international spacecraft to detect and locate distress signals sent from emergency beacons from aircraft, boats and handheld Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) anywhere in the world. Of the 397 U.S. rescues last year, 275 were water rescues, 42 were from downed aircraft and 80 were on land involving PLBs. Florida had the most SARSAT rescues with 106, followed by Alaska with 56 and Utah with 20.

January 13, 2023: Fourth Quarter 2022 GOES-R/GeoXO Newsletter

The GOES-R/GeoXO quarterly newsletter for October – December 2022 is now available. The GOES-R and GeoXO programs achieved new heights in 2022. We launched GOES-T, now known as GOES-18, completed on-orbit checkout, executed two GOES-17 and GOES-18 data interleave periods, and handed the satellite over to NOAA’s Office of Satellite and Product Operations. GOES-18 became NOAA’s operational GOES West satellite on Jan. 4, 2023. GOES-U is progressing toward its planned launch next spring, completing thermal vacuum testing and preparing for mechanical testing. And the future of NOAA’s geostationary satellite observations is assured, with the approval of the GeoXO Program.

January 04, 2023: NOAA’s GOES-18 is now GOES West

NOAA’s operational satellite fleet has a new member. GOES-18 entered service as GOES West on Jan. 4, 2023. The milestone comes after a Mar. 1, 2022, launch and post-launch testing of the satellite’s instruments, systems, and data. GOES-18 replaces GOES-17 as GOES West, located 22,236 miles above the equator over the Pacific Ocean. GOES-17 will become an on-orbit standby. In its new role, GOES-18 will serve as NOAA's primary geostationary satellite for detecting and monitoring Pacific hurricanes, atmospheric rivers, coastal fog, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and other environmental phenomena that affect the western contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, and Central America. GOES-18 joins GOES-16 (GOES East) in operational service. Together the two satellites 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.