GOES 8
Encyclopedia
GOES 8, known as GOES-I before becoming operational, was an American
weather satellite
, which formed part of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite
system. It was launched in 1994, and operated until 2004 when it was retired and boosted to a graveyard orbit
. At launch, the satellite had a mass of 2105 kilograms (4,640.7 lb), and an expected operational lifespan of three or five years. It was built by Space Systems/Loral
, based on the LS-1300 satellite bus, and was the first of five GOES-I series satellites to be launched.
Atlas I
rocket, flying from Launch Complex 36B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
. The launch occurred at 06:04 GMT on 13 April 1994, and placed the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. It was then raised into geostationary orbit
by means of an R-4D-11 apogee motor. During the first burn of the apogee motor, an unusually high temperature was detected in one of the flange
s upon which a thruster was mounted, however later analysis, based on satellites using similar thruster systems, demonstrated that it was still acceptable. During the third burn, a malfunction of the computer controlling the attitude control system caused several manoeuvring thrusters to fire. This resulted in the burn being aborted.
GOES 8 was eventually raised to the correct orbit, and positioned at a longitude
of 75° West. Following on-orbit testing, it was activated as the GOES-EAST satellite, allowing GOES 7
, which had previously been covering both positions, to assume GOES-WEST operations.
GOES 8 suffered from a design fault with the motor windings in its imager and sounder, with one of two sets failing within a few years of it becoming operational. If the other set had failed, it would have made the system inoperable. This fault also occurred on the GOES 9
satellite, which was launched in 1995. It was corrected before GOES 10
was launched. In 1997, one of its momentum wheels failed, however unlike with GOES 9, the other wheel was not affected, and the satellite was able to continue operations.
GOES 8 was retired from GOES-EAST operations in 2003, when it was replaced by GOES 12
. Following this it remained in storage for a year as a backup, before being boosted to a graveyard orbit
between 4 and 5 May 2004.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
weather satellite
Weather satellite
The weather satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to monitor the weather and climate of the Earth. Satellites can be either polar orbiting, seeing the same swath of the Earth every 12 hours, or geostationary, hovering over the same spot on Earth by orbiting over the equator while...
, which formed part of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite
The Geostationary Satellite system, operated by the United States National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service , supports weather forecasting, severe storm tracking, and meteorology research. Spacecraft and ground-based elements of the system work together to provide a continuous...
system. It was launched in 1994, and operated until 2004 when it was retired and boosted to a graveyard orbit
Graveyard orbit
A graveyard orbit, also called a supersynchronous orbit, junk orbit or disposal orbit, is an orbit significantly above synchronous orbit, where spacecraft are intentionally placed at the end of their operational life...
. At launch, the satellite had a mass of 2105 kilograms (4,640.7 lb), and an expected operational lifespan of three or five years. It was built by Space Systems/Loral
Space Systems/Loral
Space Systems/Loral , of Palo Alto, California, is the wholly owned manufacturing subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications. It was acquired in 1990 for $715 million by Loral Corp. from Ford Motor Company as the Space Systems Division of Ford Aerospace...
, based on the LS-1300 satellite bus, and was the first of five GOES-I series satellites to be launched.
Launch
GOES-I was launched aboard a Martin MariettaMartin Marietta
Martin Marietta Corporation was an American company founded in 1961 through the merger of The Martin Company and American-Marietta Corporation. The combined company became a leader in chemicals, aerospace, and electronics. In 1995, it merged with Lockheed Corporation to form Lockheed Martin. The...
Atlas I
Atlas I
The Atlas I was an American expendable launch system, used in the 1990s to launch a variety of different satellites. The "I" in "Atlas I" can cause confusion, as all previous Atlas rockets were designated using letters, ending with the Atlas H, however subsequent rockets were designated using roman...
rocket, flying from Launch Complex 36B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is an installation of the United States Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing, headquartered at nearby Patrick Air Force Base. Located on Cape Canaveral in the state of Florida, CCAFS is the primary launch head of America's Eastern Range with four launch pads...
. The launch occurred at 06:04 GMT on 13 April 1994, and placed the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. It was then raised into geostationary orbit
Geostationary orbit
A geostationary orbit is a geosynchronous orbit directly above the Earth's equator , with a period equal to the Earth's rotational period and an orbital eccentricity of approximately zero. An object in a geostationary orbit appears motionless, at a fixed position in the sky, to ground observers...
by means of an R-4D-11 apogee motor. During the first burn of the apogee motor, an unusually high temperature was detected in one of the flange
Flange
A flange is an external or internal ridge, or rim , for strength, as the flange of an iron beam such as an I-beam or a T-beam; or for attachment to another object, as the flange on the end of a pipe, steam cylinder, etc., or on the lens mount of a camera; or for a flange of a rail car or tram wheel...
s upon which a thruster was mounted, however later analysis, based on satellites using similar thruster systems, demonstrated that it was still acceptable. During the third burn, a malfunction of the computer controlling the attitude control system caused several manoeuvring thrusters to fire. This resulted in the burn being aborted.
GOES 8 was eventually raised to the correct orbit, and positioned at a longitude
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
of 75° West. Following on-orbit testing, it was activated as the GOES-EAST satellite, allowing GOES 7
GOES 7
GOES 7, known as GOES-H before becoming operational, is an American satellite. It was originally built as a weather satellite, and formed part of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system. Originally built as a ground spare,...
, which had previously been covering both positions, to assume GOES-WEST operations.
Operations
GOES 9
GOES 9, known as GOES-J before becoming operational, was an American weather satellite, which formed part of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system. It was launched in 1995, and operated until 2007 when it was retired and...
satellite, which was launched in 1995. It was corrected before GOES 10
GOES 10
GOES 10, known as GOES-K before becoming operational, was an American weather satellite, which formed part of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system...
was launched. In 1997, one of its momentum wheels failed, however unlike with GOES 9, the other wheel was not affected, and the satellite was able to continue operations.
GOES 8 was retired from GOES-EAST operations in 2003, when it was replaced by GOES 12
GOES 12
GOES 12, known as GOES-M before becoming operational is an American weather satellite, which is part of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system. It was launched in 2001, and it is in standby orbit...
. Following this it remained in storage for a year as a backup, before being boosted to a graveyard orbit
Graveyard orbit
A graveyard orbit, also called a supersynchronous orbit, junk orbit or disposal orbit, is an orbit significantly above synchronous orbit, where spacecraft are intentionally placed at the end of their operational life...
between 4 and 5 May 2004.