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
GOES-1 is prepared for launch
atop its Delta 2914 rocket.
NamesGOES-A
SMS-C
Mission typeWeather satellite
OperatorNASA / NOAA
COSPAR ID1975-100A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.08366
Mission duration9 years, 4 months and 18 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeSMS
ManufacturerFord Aerospace
Launch mass631 kg
Dimensions190.5 cm (diameter) and 230 cm (length)
Start of mission
Launch date16 October 1975, 22:40:00 UTC
RocketDelta 2914
Launch siteCape Canaveral, LC-17B
ContractorMcDonnell Douglas
Entered service25 October 1975 (first image)
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
Deactivated7 March 1985
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeGeostationary orbit
SlotIndian Ocean

Launch

edit
 
GOES-A lifts off aboard Delta 2914 D116.

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

edit
 
Artist's impression of GOES-1 in orbit
 
The first image obtained from the GOES-1 satellite, 25 October 1975, 1645 UTC whilst the spacecraft was moving to its operational orbit above the indian ocean.

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

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "GOES-1". The GOES Program. NASA. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011.
  4. ^ 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.
edit