GOES-1, designated GOES-A and SMS-C prior to entering service, was a weather satellite, developed by the NASA, operated by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It was the first Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) to be launched.[1]
 GOES-1 is prepared for launch atop its Delta 2914 rocket. | |
| Names | GOES-A SMS-C |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Weather satellite |
| Operator | NASA / NOAA |
| COSPAR ID | 1975-100A |
| SATCAT no. | 08366 |
| Mission duration | 9 years, 4 months and 18 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | SMS |
| Manufacturer | Ford Aerospace |
| Launch mass | 631 kg |
| Dimensions | 190.5 cm (diameter) and 230 cm (length) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 16 October 1975, 22:40:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Delta 2914 |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral, LC-17B |
| Contractor | McDonnell Douglas |
| Entered service | 25 October 1975 (first image) |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Decommissioned |
| Deactivated | 7 March 1985 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Slot | Indian Ocean |
Launch
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GOES-A was launched atop a Delta 2914 from LC-17B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The launch occurred at 22:40:00 UTC on 16 October 1975, and left the satellite in a geostationary transfer orbit. Following launch, it raised itself to a geostationary orbit by means of its onboard SVM-5 apogee motor, at which time it was redesignated GOES-1.
Operations
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It was positioned over the Indian Ocean to gather data for the Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP). GOES-1 was equipped with a Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer (VISSR),[2] which provided day and night[1] imagery of terrestrial cloud conditions. It returned its first image on 25 October 1975, nine days after launch. The satellite continuously monitored weather events and relayed this meteorological data from over 10,000 surface locations into a central processing center. The data was then incorporated into weather prediction models. It also carried a Space Environment Monitor (SEM) and a Data Collection System (DCS), derived from those used on TIROS satellites.
GOES-1 was replaced by GOES-3, which was launched in 1978. After finishing operations over the Indian Ocean, it was moved to replace SMS-2 over the Pacific Ocean.[3] It remained operational there until 3 February 1985[4] and it was deactivated by NASA on 7 March 1985.[1]
See also
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- Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS-A, SMS-B)
References
edit- ^ a b c "40 Years of GOES: The Anniversary of GOES-1 | NOAA NESDIS". www.nesdis.noaa.gov. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Phenix, James E. (1973). "Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer" (PDF). ntrs.nasa.gov. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "GOES-1". The GOES Program. NASA. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011.
- ^ Davis, Gary (October 2009). "History of the NOAA Satellite Program" (PDF). docs.lib.noaa.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 October 2014. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
