GOES 16

A geostationary satellite circles Earth above the equator in the same direction and with the same period as Earth's rotation, making it appear nearly fixed over one longitude. This requires an altitude of about 35,786 km (22,236 mi) above the equator and an orbital period close to one sidereal day.

A geostationary satellite circles Earth above the equator in the same direction and with the same period as Earth's rotation, making it appear nearly fixed over one longitude. This requires an altitude of about 35,786 km (22,236 mi) above the equator and an orbital period close to one sidereal day.

GOES-16's Advanced Baseline Imager observes Earth in 16 spectral bands. Visible and infrared measurements let forecasters compare cloud structure, temperature, moisture and rapidly changing weather during both day and night.

The Geostationary Lightning Mapper detects lightning activity over large regions. Rapid increases in lightning can help forecasters recognize intensifying thunderstorms before some hazards reach the ground.

GOES-16 also carries instruments that observe the Sun, energetic particles and Earth's magnetic environment. These measurements support warnings for space-weather events that can affect satellites, communications, navigation, aviation and electrical systems.

Weather spacecraft carry instruments that observe Earth and its atmosphere in visible, infrared, microwave, or other wavelengths. Different orbits provide either repeated regional views or broad global coverage.

• A geostationary satellite circles Earth above the equator in the same direction and with the same period as Earth's rotation, making it appear nearly fixed over one longitude. This requires an altitude of about 35,786 km (22,236 mi) above the equator and an orbital period close to one sidereal day.
• GOES-16's Advanced Baseline Imager observes Earth in 16 spectral bands. Visible and infrared measurements let forecasters compare cloud structure, temperature, moisture and rapidly changing weather during both day and night.
• The Geostationary Lightning Mapper detects lightning activity over large regions. Rapid increases in lightning can help forecasters recognize intensifying thunderstorms before some hazards reach the ground.
• GOES-16 also carries instruments that observe the Sun, energetic particles and Earth's magnetic environment. These measurements support warnings for space-weather events that can affect satellites, communications, navigation, aviation and electrical systems.

A geostationary satellite circles Earth above the equator in the same direction and with the same period as Earth's rotation, making it appear nearly fixed over one longitude. This requires an altitude of about 35,786 km (22,236 mi) above the equator and an orbital period close to one sidereal day. GOES-16's Advanced Baseline Imager observes Earth in 16 spectral bands. Visible and infrared measurements let forecasters compare cloud structure, temperature, moisture and rapidly changing weather during both day and night. The Geostationary Lightning Mapper detects lightning activity over large regions. Rapid increases in lightning can help forecasters recognize intensifying thunderstorms before some hazards reach the ground. GOES-16 also carries instruments that observe the Sun, energetic particles and Earth's magnetic environment. These measurements support warnings for space-weather events that can affect satellites, communications, navigation, aviation and electrical systems.

The current two-line element set reports approximately 1.0027 revolutions per day. Dividing 1,440 minutes by that value gives an estimated orbital period of 1,436.1 minutes.

The GOES-R spacecraft lifted off on 19 November 2016 at 6:42 p.m. EST aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. After reaching its designated orbit and beginning checkout, GOES-R was renamed GOES-16. NOAA and NASA then calibrated and validated its six instruments before operational service began.

A geosynchronous satellite takes about one sidereal day to orbit Earth. A circular equatorial geostationary satellite appears to remain near one longitude in the sky.

GEO is valuable when continuous coverage of a broad region matters, although the great distance increases signal delay and reduces image detail compared with lower orbits.

• Why can infrared instruments observe clouds at night?
• What is the difference between continuous regional coverage and global coverage?

Current identity and orbital elements come from CelesTrak’s public GP data. Calculated orbit values are derived from the current TLE and may change after catalog updates. Mission-history claims are added separately and require authoritative sources.

• CelesTrak NORAD GP Element Sets
• GOES-R Series · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
• NASA Successfully Launches NOAA Advanced Geostationary Weather Satellite · NASA
• GOES Instrument and Subsystem Performance Status · NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations