NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1994-022A
GOES 8 is the 11th in a series of NASA-developed, NOAA-operated, geosynchronous and operational spacecraft. The triaxis-stabilized spacecraft carries (1) Imager and Sounder system to provide visible and infrared images of cloud cover, and to determine atmospheric temperature and water vapor content at various levels, (2) a meteorological data collection system to relay processed data from central weather facilities to regional stations equipped with APT and to collect and retransmit data from remotely located earth-based platforms, (3) a space environment monitor (SEM) system to measure proton, electron, and solar X-ray fluxes and magnetic fields, (4) a Search and Rescue (SAR) system to detect and relay distress calls from land and ocean, and (5) a WEFAX system to disseminate weather information to the user community via FAX. The cylindrically shaped spacecraft measures 190.5 cm in diameter and 230 cm in length, exclusive of a magnetometer that extends an additional 300 cm beyond the cylindrical shell. The imaging telescope is mounted on the equipment shelf and views the earth through a special aperture in the side of the spacecraft. The solar array of 1,057 W supplies two nickel-cadmium batteries of 12 Ampere-hour each. The CCSDS-compliant telemetry is in real-time at 2.0 kbs through S-bands. The eventual parking longitude of the spacecraft will be over 75 deg W. The SEC package (X-rays, H+, e-, monitors, and the Magnetometer) became inoperational on or before April 2003.
Launch Date: 1994-04-13
Launch Vehicle: Atlas-Centaur
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States
Mass: 977 kg
Nominal Power: 1057 W
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Mr. James R. Greaves | Program Manager | NASA Headquarters | james.r.greaves@nasa.gov |
Mr. Arthur F. Obenschain | Project Manager | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | obenscha@pop700.gsfc.nasa.gov |
Dr. Ronald D. Zwickl | Program Scientist | NOAA Space Environment Laboratory | ron.d.zwickl@noaa.gov |