A state-of-the-art, highly advanced weather satellite is set to launch from Cape Canaveral this weekend.
When you hear the word “satellite” your first thought is probably satellite TV or radio. Maybe you think of your cell phone data. We get all kinds of information from satellites these days, but there are other satellites in orbit which help specifically with weather forecasting.
The GOES (which stands for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) satellites orbit the earth and send data back to the National Weather Service’s supercomputers. That data goes into our daily forecasts and storm prediction. When you see a hurricane on TV, those are cloud images sent back from the GOES. When you see a water vapor image on TV showing moisture or dry air in the atmosphere, that is information gathered by a GOES. There are three GOES satellites in operation now, but a brand new “next generation” satellite is about to be launched into space. The GOES-R will be faster and more advanced than any of the other satellites in use now.
Right now, we get images as a satellite scans the earth every 30 minutes or so. The new GOES-R will reduce that time significantly. The GOES-R will scan the earth every five minutes instead, and in some instances even every 30 seconds. Not only will it be five times faster than current satellites, the GOES-R will gather three times more data and have four times better resolution.
There will be 34 meteorological, solar and space weather products available from the new GOES-R, and according to NOAA (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), another 41 products could be available in the future. Click on this link to take a look at the list of products which will greatly enhance forecasting ability and accuracy:
The GOES-R is set to launch from Cape Canaveral on the back of an Atlas V rocket on Saturday, November 19. The window opens at 5:42 PM and as of Friday, the weather looks to cooperate nicely! The only small concern (10%) is a few cumulus clouds nearby. The forecast is a 90% GO for Saturday evening. Scheduled just after sunset, this should be a spectacular view well inland in Central Florida.