Editing Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (section)

==Purpose==
[[File:Generic GOES data relay pattern.jpg|thumbnail|left|GOES data relay pattern.]]

Designed to operate in [[geostationary orbit]] {{convert|35790|km}} above the Earth, the GOES spacecraft continuously view the [[continental United States]], the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, [[Central America]], [[South America]], and southern Canada. The three-axis, body-stabilized design enables the sensors to "stare" at the Earth and thus more frequently image clouds, monitor the Earth's surface temperature and [[water vapour]] fields, and sound the atmosphere for its vertical thermal and vapor structures. The evolution of [[atmospheric phenomena]] can be followed, ensuring real-time coverage of meteorological events such as severe local storms and [[tropical cyclone]]s. The importance of this capability was proven during hurricanes [[hurricane Hugo|Hugo]] (1989) and [[hurricane Andrew|Andrew]] (1992).

The GOES spacecraft also enhance operational services and improve support for atmospheric science research, [[numerical weather prediction]] models, and environmental sensor design and development.

Satellite data is broadcast on the [[L band|L-band]], and received at the NOAA Command and Data Acquisition [[ground station]] at [[Wallops Island, Virginia]]<ref>[http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/goes/text/mission.html GOES-I/M MISSION, Goddard Space Flight Center (accessed 17 March 2008)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517040009/http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/goes/text/mission.html |date=17 May 2008 }}</ref> from which it is disseminated to users. Additionally, anyone may receive data directly from the satellites by utilizing a small [[Satellite dish|dish]], and processing the data with special software.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goes-r.gov/users/user-systems.html|title=GOES-R User Systems|website=www.goes-r.gov|access-date=2017-07-18|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627184707/http://www.goes-r.gov/users/user-systems.html|archive-date=2017-06-27}}</ref>

The GOES satellites are controlled from the Satellite Operations Control Center in Suitland, Maryland. During significant weather or other events, the normal schedules can be altered to provide the coverage requested by the NWS and other agencies.

[[File:ExtremeEvent 20120304-00h 20120317-24h.jpg|thumb|right|320px|Space Weather -- March 2012.<ref>{{cite web | title=Extreme Space Weather Events | publisher=[[National Geophysical Data Center]] | url=http://sxi.ngdc.noaa.gov/sxi_greatest.html | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522031032/http://sxi.ngdc.noaa.gov/sxi_greatest.html | archive-date=2012-05-22 }}</ref>]]

GOES-12 and above also have provided a platform for the Solar X-Ray Imager (SXI) and space environment monitoring (SEM) instruments.

The SXI provides high-cadence monitoring of large scale solar structures to support the Space Environment Services Center's (SESC) mission. The SXI unit on GOES-13, however, was damaged by a solar flare in 2006. The SESC, as the nation's "space weather" service, receives, monitors, and interprets a wide variety of solar-terrestrial data. It also issues reports, alerts, and forecasts for special events such as solar flares or geomagnetic storms. This information is important to the operation of military and civilian radio wave and satellite communication and navigation systems. The information also is important to electric power networks, the missions of geophysical explorers, Space Station astronauts, high-altitude aviators, and scientific researchers.

The SEM measures the effect of the Sun on the near-Earth solar-terrestrial electromagnetic environment, providing real-time data to the SESC.