Today in the history of astronomy, 50 years of weather-monitoring kicks off.
For 50 years, GOES satellites -- a NASA/NOAA collaboration -- have monitored weather conditions on Earth and in space. Credit: NOAA
A joint project of NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) program provides continuous monitoring of weather both on Earth and in space. The GOES satellites map lightning activity, measure and image atmospheric conditions, and track solar activity and space weather. This constant flow of data is invaluable for ongoing climate studies, accurate forecasts, and prompt severe weather warnings. Two series of predecessor NASA satellites studied meteorological conditions before the first GOES satellite, GOES-1 (called GOES A before launch) lifted off on Oct. 16, 1975. Eighteen additional GOES satellites followed across five decades, with the technology in each successive generation improved and refined. GOES-19 launched on June 25, 2024, and will be the final GOES satellite. The GeoXO program is anticipated to replace GOES, with its first satellite scheduled to launch in 2032.
Elisa Neckar is senior production editor of Astronomy magazine, and the editor of the Today in the History of Astronomy feature on Astronomy.com.