GOES 2

GOES-2, known as GOES-B 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.[4] GOES-2 was built by Ford Aerospace, and was based on the satellite bus developed for the Synchronous Meteorological Satellite programme. At launch it had a mass of 295 kilograms (650 lb).[5] It was positioned in geostationary orbit, from where it was used for weather forecasting in the United States. Following its retirement as a weather satellite, it was used as a communications satellite until its final decommissioning in 2001.

Launch of GOES-B on a Delta 2914
GOES-2
Artist's impression of an SMS-series GOES satellite in orbit
Mission typeWeather satellite
OperatorNOAA / NASA
COSPAR ID1977-048A
SATCAT no.10061
Mission duration24 years
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeSMS
ManufacturerFord Aerospace
Launch mass295 kilograms (650 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date16 June 1977, 10:51:00 (1977-06-16UTC10:51Z) UTC
RocketDelta 2914
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-17B
ContractorMcDonnell Douglas
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
Deactivated5 May 2001, 21:08 (2001-05-05UTC21:09Z) UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Longitude75° West (1977-1978)
100-110° West (1978-1984)
112-114° West (1984-1990)
60° West (1990-1992)
135° West (1992-1995)
177° West (1995-2001)[1][2]
Perigee altitude35,972 kilometres (22,352 mi)
Apogee altitude36,094 kilometres (22,428 mi)
Inclination13.7696º
Period24 hours
Epoch17 May 2016, 10:12:31 UTC[3]
 

GOES-B was launched using a Delta 2914 carrier rocket flying from Launch Complex 17B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.[2] The launch occurred at 10:51:00 GMT on 16 June 1977.[6] The launch successfully placed GOES-B into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, from which it raised itself to geostationary orbit by means of an onboard SVM-5 apogee motor. Its insertion into geosynchronous orbit occurred at 03:26 GMT on 17 June.[1]

Following on-orbit testing, GOES-B was redesignated GOES-2, and replaced SMS-1 at a longitude of 60 degrees west. It was operated as a weather satellite at several different positions until 1993, and was then placed into storage. It was reactivated as a communications satellite in 1995, and moved to 177° West. It was used by Peacesat to provide communications services to islands in the Pacific Ocean, a role in which it was replaced by GOES-7 in 1999, and by the US National Science Foundation for communications with the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. On 5 May 2001, it was retired to a graveyard orbit. At 21:08 GMT, two hours after the last manoeuvre to remove it from geosynchronous orbit, GOES-2 was commanded to deactivate its communications system, preventing future ground commands being sent to it.

See also

References
  1. McDowell, Jonathan. "Index". Geostationary Orbit Catalog. Jonathan's Space Page. Archived from the original on 2010-04-06. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
  2. Wade, Mark. "GOES". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
  3. GOES-2 - Orbit. Heavens Above. Retrieved 2016-17-05.
  4. "GOES-2". The GOES Program - ESE 40th Anniversary. NASA. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
  5. Krebs, Gunter. "SMS 1, 2 / GOES 1, 2, 3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
  6. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
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