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GOES-R: The Future of Forecasting
What is GOES-R?
The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R Series (GOES-R) is the nation’s next generation of geostationary weather satellites. It is the first of four satellites to be launched for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The GOES-R satellite will provide advanced imaging with increased spatial resolution and faster coverage for more accurate forecasts, real-time mapping of lightning activity and improved monitoring of solar activity. For the first time, GOES-R will be able to monitor the Earth in near real-time.
Once in geostationary orbit (the orbit around the Earth’s equator), it will provide images of weather patterns and severe storms across the continental U.S. as regularly as every five minutes. Images of smaller, more detailed areas, where storm activity is present, will be taken as frequently as every 30 seconds.
These images can be used to aid in formulating regular forecasts, term forecasting, such as seasonal predictions and drought outlooks.
In addition, the satellite will constantly monitor space weather conditions, such as solar flares, to provide advance notice of potential communication and navigation disruptions.
The satellite will also assist researchers in understanding the interactions between land, oceans, the atmosphere and climate.
What will GOES-R Do?
Improve hurricane tracking and intensity forecasts
Increase thunderstorm and tornado warning lead time
Give earlier warning of ground lightning strike hazards
Improve detection of heavy rainfall and flash flooding risks
Improve air quality warnings and alerts
Give better fire detection and intensity estimation
Improve solar flare warnings for communications and navigation disruptions
Give more accurate monitoring of energetic particles responsible for radiation hazards to humans and spacecraft
Improve monitoring of space weather to get better geomagnetic storm forecasting.
The better we can predict what’s coming, the better we can prepare.
Launch Activities!
The GOES-R satellite is targeted for a launch on Saturday, Nov. 19, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
The one-hour launch window opens at 5:42 p.m. EST. Liftoff will occur from our Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Join us leading up to launch by tuning in during the following times:
Thursday, Nov. 17 Prelaunch News Conference - 1 p.m. EST Watch HERE
GOES-R Mission Briefing - 2 p.m. EST Watch HERE
Friday, Nov. 18 GOES-R Social Presentations – 1:30 p.m. EST Watch HERE
Saturday, Nov. 19 NASA Edge Prelaunch Program – 3:45 p.m. EST Watch HERE
Launch Coverage & Commentary – 4:45 p.m. EST Watch HERE
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com
NASA Co-Op Week 15: Precious Cargo
Six flags of countries who contributed to the International Space Station decorate the flight console. I return to Mission Control watching launch preparations from a new perspective - with Remote Interface Officer. Colloquially called RIO this team of international collaborators were originally dubbed Russian Integration Officer. The RIO flight controller communicated with the Russian team for launch and cargo capture system checks for the Cygnus rocket launch carried by an Atlas V rocket. Cygnus carries over 7,000 pounds of experiments, food and replacement parts to Space Station. cell cultures, bacteria, and microbe satellite experiments are on board the Cygnus rocket. We are calling this event a "Cyg"-nificant launch.
A team of NASA flight controllers flip-flop working in the Russian Mission Control Center in Moscow and NASA's in Houston. For two months controllers visiting Moscow sit console for eight hours a day, six days a week, and on call 24/7. By being available to assist with international troubleshooting, answering the right questions, and making right calls at the right time RIO has saved the space station hundreds of thousands of dollars. Ten years ago an hour of an astronaut's time in space was worth $100,000 so that cost has inflated even more now!
RIO introduced me to their mascot, a groundhog named Phil. One of the first Russian American collaborations took place on a Groundhog Day. Phil's collar is decorated with pins from various missions. The plush Ground Hog was hibernating under the console but has been kidnapped and escorted around the Red Square.
An odd anecdote I learned is that there is a survival hand gun stowed away on the Soyuz capsule. It is used if the Soyuz makes an emergency landing in an unexpected area and the astronauts need to defend themselves from bears or wolves. That's pretty hard core!
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED Watch the Cygnus cargo launch Dec 3rd 4:55pmCT: http://www.ustream.tv/NASAHDTV Accomplishments this week at NASA: https://youtu.be/t3_5ahJ0-Lw Apply for a NASA Internship & Scholarships NOW: https://intern.nasa.gov/ossi/web/public/main/ NASA Co-Op applications: http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/studentopps/employment/opportunities.htm NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars: http://nas.okstate.edu/ncas/ Join an aspirations in computing community: https://www.ncwit.org/programs-campaigns/aspirations-computing
Cargo Launch & Boogers
Count the number of times I pick my nose (because you all did last time and reported less than 5 times) when I sit console with RIO (Remote Interface Officer formally known as Russian Interface Officer) tomorrow Dec 3rd 7am- afternoonish. It is the console with all the flags on it. NASA TV will probably not stream Mission Control the whole day but cuts to it every once and awhile. http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/ Also occurring is the United Launch Alliance/ Orbital cargo ship launch to Space Station 4:55pmCT. There are things on this launch I care about so I'll be intently watching. http://www.ulalaunch.com/
A dozen NASA Interns from Johnson Space Center are road tripping to Kennedy Space Center to tour and watch the launch tomorrow October 30th. The United Launch Alliance (ULA) are launching a GPS into semi-synchronous circular orbit about 11,000 nautical miles over Earth's surface. This GPS will help military personnel and civilians navigate providing data. WATCH THE LAUNCH here October 30th 12:17pm EDT: http://www.ulalaunch.com/nasa.aspx Mission Overview: http://www.ulalaunch.com/uploads/docs/Mission_Booklets/AV/av_gpsiif11_mob.pdf More About Atlas V: http://www.ulalaunch.com/atlas-v-to-launch-gps-iif11.aspx Rocket photo by ULA