GOES 4
Encyclopedia
GOES 4, known as GOES-D before becoming operational, was a geostationary weather satellite
which was operated by the United States
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
as part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite
system. Launched in 1980, it was used for weather forecasting in the United States, and later in Europe
. Following its retirement it became the first satellite to be sent into a graveyard orbit
.
, and was based around the HS-371 satellite bus
. At launch it had a mass of 660 kilograms (1,455.1 lb), with an expected operational lifespan of around seven years. It was the first HS-371 based GOES satellite.
carrier rocket flying from Launch Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
. The launch occurred at 22:27 GMT on 9 September 1980. The launch successfully placed GOES-D into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, from which it raised itself to geostationary orbit by means of an onboard Star-27 apogee motor. Its insertion into geostationary orbit occurred at 12:00 on 11 September.
Following its insertion into geostationary orbit, GOES 4 was positioned at 98° West. In 1981, it was moved to 135° West, where it remained until 1983 when it was moved to 139° West (1983–1984). In 1985 it was repositioned at 10° West, and later 44° West, where it provided coverage of Europe for EUMETSAT following the failure of the Meteosat-2 spacecraft.
for disposal. This was accomplished on 9 November 1988, using remaining propellent in the satellite's station-keeping thrusters.
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 was operated by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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...
as part of the 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. Launched in 1980, it was used for weather forecasting in the United States, and later in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Following its retirement it became the first satellite to be sent into 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...
.
Limited lifespan
GOES 4 was built by Hughes Space and CommunicationsBoeing Satellite Development Center
The Boeing Satellite Development Center is a major business unit of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. It brought together Boeing satellite operations with that of GM Hughes Electronics' Space and Communications division.-History:...
, and was based around the HS-371 satellite bus
Satellite bus
A satellite bus or spacecraft bus is the general model on which multiple-production satellite spacecraft are often based. The bus is the infrastructure of a spacecraft, usually providing locations for the payload .They are most commonly used for geosynchronous satellites, particularly...
. At launch it had a mass of 660 kilograms (1,455.1 lb), with an expected operational lifespan of around seven years. It was the first HS-371 based GOES satellite.
Launch and orbit
GOES-D was launched using a Delta 3914Delta 3000
The Delta 3000 series was an American expendable launch system which was used to conduct thirty five orbital launches between 1975 and 1989. It was a member of the Delta family of rockets. Several variants existed, which were differentiated by a four digit numerical code.The first stage was the...
carrier rocket flying from Launch Complex 17A 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 22:27 GMT on 9 September 1980. The launch successfully placed GOES-D into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, from which it raised itself to geostationary orbit by means of an onboard Star-27 apogee motor. Its insertion into geostationary orbit occurred at 12:00 on 11 September.
Following its insertion into geostationary orbit, GOES 4 was positioned at 98° West. In 1981, it was moved to 135° West, where it remained until 1983 when it was moved to 139° West (1983–1984). In 1985 it was repositioned at 10° West, and later 44° West, where it provided coverage of Europe for EUMETSAT following the failure of the Meteosat-2 spacecraft.
Graveyard orbit
Following the end of its operations over Europe, GOES 4 was retired from service. It became the first spacecraft to be raised out of geosynchronous orbit, into a graveyard orbitGraveyard 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...
for disposal. This was accomplished on 9 November 1988, using remaining propellent in the satellite's station-keeping thrusters.