GOES satellites are designated with a letter prior to introduce and a number once they achieve geostationary orbit.
The launch vehicle provided GOES-T to a geostationary transfer orbit, an extremely elliptical orbit where the satellite is close to the Earth during one part of its orbit and far from the Earth on the opposite side. Placing GOES-T in a geostationary transfer orbit offers the satellite a path to reach its last geostationary orbit over the equator (see diagram below). The satellite is now in position to orbit at the exact same rate Earth rotates, so it can keep constant watch over the very same area.
The geostationary transfer orbit is the blue course from the yellow orbit to the red orbit.
The launch car provided GOES-T to a geostationary transfer orbit, an extremely elliptical orbit where the satellite is close to the Earth during one part of its orbit and far from the Earth on the opposite side. Putting GOES-T in a geostationary transfer orbit offers the satellite a course to reach its last geostationary orbit over the equator (see diagram below).
Geostationary transfer orbit: After liftoff, the launch automobile makes its method to area following a course revealed by the yellow line. At the target location, the rocket releases the payload which sets it off on an elliptical orbit, following the blue line which sends out the payload further away from Earth. The point farthest away from the Earth on the blue elliptical orbit is called the point and the apogee closest is called the perigee. When the payload reaches the apogee at the geostationary elevation of 22,236 miles, it fires its engines in such a way that it gets in onto the circular geostationary orbit and remains there, shown by the red line in the diagram. The geostationary transfer orbit is the blue course from the yellow orbit to the red orbit. Credit: European Space Agency
Next, GOES-18 will perform its second phase solar variety deployment, launching the solar array. The released solar panels will form a single solar range wing that will rotate as soon as daily to continuously point its photovoltaic (solar) cells toward the sun. The photovoltaic cells will convert energy from the sun into electricity to power the whole satellite, consisting of the instruments, computers, information processors, sensing units, and telecom devices..
In the days that follow, numerous maneuvers will be performed to put GOES-T in its 89.5 degrees west longitude preliminary checkout position, between the functional GOES-East and GOES-West satellites. Then, the magnetometer boom will be released. The satellite will then start on-orbit checkout and validation of its systems and instruments..
GOES-18 view of the Western Hemisphere at its preliminary checkout area and post-drift checkout area. Credit: NOAA.
NOAA expects to see the very first images from GOES-18 in May. NOAA prepares for GOES-18 to take over as the functional GOES-West satellite in early 2023, replacing GOES-17.
GOES-18 will track damaging wildfires, lightning, Pacific Ocean-based storms, thick fog, and other risks that threaten the U.S. West Coast, Hawaii and Alaska. It will likewise monitor solar activity and area weather to supply early warnings of disruptions to power grids, interactions, and navigation systems.
NOAAs GOES-T is the 3rd satellite in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)– R Series, the Western Hemispheres most sophisticated weather-observing and environmental-monitoring system. The GOES-R Series offers innovative imagery and climatic measurements, real-time mapping of lightning activity, and tracking of area weather condition. Credit: NOAA
On March 14, 2022, GOES-T performed its last engine burn, putting the satellite in geostationary orbit 22,236 miles above Earth. Upon reaching this milestone, GOES-T was renamed GOES-18. GOES satellites are designated with a letter prior to introduce and a number once they achieve geostationary orbit.
NOAAs GOES-T satellite released on March 1, 2022, at 4:38 p.m. EST, lifting off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The satellite launched aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41. The launch was managed by NASAs Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy Space.
GOES-T separated from the Atlas V Centaur upper phase at 8:11 p.m. EST on March 1. GOES-T mission supervisors confirmed that its solar arrays effectively released at 8:28 p.m. EST and the satellite was operating on its own power.