Optical Systems In Geosynchronous Orbit

Abstract

Providing timely global weather information, including advanced warning of developing storms, is the primary function of the United States Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) meteorological program. To provide more complete data, two new GOES satellites are under construction. Known as GOES GH, the synchronous satellites will be operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in support of the National Weather Service and other United States and international users. Hughes Aircraft Company is designing and building GOES GH under the technical direction of the Goddard Space Flight Center of NASA. The GOES GH design uses improved technology and has greater capability than previous GOES satellites. The new satellite directly transmits day and night observations of global scale weather, hurricanes, and other more localized severe storms. It also relays processed, high resolution observation data along with weather facsimile (WEFAX) data. Weather observations are generated in the Visible and Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR) Atmospheric Sounder (VAS). The VAS performs visible and infrared (IR) imaging as well as multispectral imaging and temperature sounding of the atmosphere. The optical scanner on the 100 rpm spinning portion of the spacecraft records the visual imagery with a resolution of 0.9 km (0.6 mile) and IR imagery with a resolution of 6.9 km (4.3 miles).