GOES 4

Last updated
GOES-4
GOES-D Spac0273.jpg
GOES-D before launch
Mission type Weather satellite
Operator NOAA/NASA
COSPAR ID 1980-074A OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 11964 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Mission duration7 years (planned)
8.2 years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Bus HS-371
Manufacturer Hughes
Launch mass660 kilograms (1,460 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date9 September 1980, 22:27 (1980-09-09UTC22:27Z) UTC
Rocket Delta 3914
Launch site Cape Canaveral LC-17A
Contractor McDonnell Douglas
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
Deactivated9 October 1988 (1988-10-10)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geostationary
Longitude98° West (1980-1981)
135° West (1981-1983)
139° West (1983-1984)
10° West (1985)
44° West (1985-1988)
SlotGOES-WEST (1981-1983)
Period 24 hours
 

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. [1] 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.

Contents

Limited lifespan

Launch of GOES-D on a Delta 3914 GOES-D Spac0247.jpg
Launch of GOES-D on a Delta 3914

GOES-4 was built by Hughes Space and Communications, and was based around the HS-371 satellite bus. At launch it had a mass of 660 kilograms (1,460 lb), [2] with an expected operational lifespan of around seven years. [3] It was the first HS-371 based GOES satellite. [4]

Launch and orbit

GOES-D was launched using a Delta 3914 carrier rocket flying from Launch Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. [5] The launch occurred at 22:27 GMT on 9 September 1980. [6] 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. [7]

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. [8]

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 orbit for disposal. [9] This was accomplished on 9 November 1988, using remaining propellent in the satellite's station-keeping thrusters.

See also

Related Research Articles

Fengyun 2-05, also known as Fengyun 2D is a Chinese weather satellite which was launched in 2006. It was the fourth satellite to be launched of the Fengyun 2 series, and the second operational spacecraft. It is part of the Fengyun programme.

Intelsat 2, formerly PAS-2, was a communications satellite operated by Intelsat which spent most of its operational life serving the Pacific Rim market from a longitude of 169° East. Launched in July 1994, the satellite was operated by PanAmSat until it merged with Intelsat in 2006. The spacecraft was renamed, along with the rest of PanAmSat's fleet, on 1 February 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GOES 9</span> NOAA weather satellite

GOES-9, known as GOES-J before becoming operational, was an American weather satellite, which formed part of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system. It was launched in 1995, and operated until 2007 when it was retired and boosted to a graveyard orbit. At launch, the satellite had a mass of 2,105 kilograms (4,641 lb), and an expected operational lifespan of three years. It was built by Space Systems/Loral, based on the LS-1300 satellite bus, and was the second of five GOES-I series satellites to be launched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GOES 8</span> NOAA weather satellite

GOES-8, known as GOES-I before becoming operational, was an American weather satellite, which formed part of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system. It was launched in 1994, and operated until 2004 when it was retired and boosted to a graveyard orbit. At launch, the satellite had a mass of 2,105 kilograms (4,641 lb), and an expected operational lifespan of three or five years. It was built by Space Systems/Loral, based on the LS-1300 satellite bus, and was the first of five GOES-I series satellites to be launched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GOES 7</span> NOAA weather satellite

GOES-7, known as GOES-H before becoming operational, is an American satellite. It was originally built as a weather satellite, and formed part of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system. Originally built as a ground spare, GOES-H was launched in 1987 due to delays with the next series of satellites. It was operated by NOAA until 1999, before being leased to Peacesat, who use it as a communications satellite. As of 2009, it was operational over the Pacific Ocean, providing communications for the Pacific Islands. On April 12, 2012, the spacecraft was finally decommissioned and moved to a graveyard orbit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">INSAT-1B</span>

INSAT-1B was an Indian communications satellite which formed part of the Indian National Satellite System. Launched in 1983, it was operated in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 74 degrees east. At the end of its seven-year design life it was replaced by the newly launched INSAT-1D, dropping to backup status. In 1992, it was relocated to 93° east, before being decommissioned in August 1993.

Thaicom 5 was a geostationary communications satellite operated by Thaicom. It was used to provide communications services to Asia, Africa, Middle East, Americas, Europe and Australia.

EchoStar X, also known as EchoStar 10, is an American geostationary communications satellite which is operated by EchoStar on behalf of Dish Network. It is positioned in Geostationary orbit at a longitude of 110° West, from where it is used to provide direct broadcasting services to the United States.

JCSAT-4A, designated JCSAT-6 before launch, is a Japanese geostationary communications satellite which is operated by JSAT Corporation. It is positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 124° East, from where it is used to provide broadcasting and corporate network communications to Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TDRS-6</span> American communications satellite

TDRS-6, known before launch as TDRS-F, is an American communications satellite, of first generation, which is operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. It was constructed by TRW, and is based on a custom satellite bus which was used for all seven first generation TDRS satellites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TDRS-7</span> American communications satellite

TDRS-7, known before launch as TDRS-G, is an American communications satellite, of first generation, which is operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. It was constructed by TRW as a replacement for TDRS-B, which had been lost in the Challenger accident, and was the last first generation TDRS satellite to be launched.

Galaxy 11 is an American geostationary communications satellite which is operated by Intelsat. It is located in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 32.8 degrees east, where it serves as a backup to the Intelsat 802 spacecraft. It was originally operated at 99° West and later spent most of its operational life at 91° West, from where it was used to provide communications services to Brazil and North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GOES 2</span> NOAA weather satellite

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. 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). 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GOES 3</span> NOAA weather satellite

GOES-3, known as GOES-C before becoming operational, was an American geostationary weather and communications satellite. It was originally built for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system, and was launched in June 1978. It was positioned in geostationary orbit, from where it was initially used for weather forecasting in the United States. Since ceasing to function as a weather satellite in 1989, it was used as a communications satellite, and spent over thirty-eight years in operation. GOES-3 was decommissioned 29 June 2016 at the Center for Southeastern Tropical Advanced Remote Sensing facility in Miami, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GOES 5</span> NOAA weather satellite

GOES-5, known as GOES-E 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 1981, it was used for weather forecasting in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GOES 6</span> NOAA weather satellite

GOES-6, known as GOES-F 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 1983, it was used for weather forecasting in the United States.

Intelsat 605, previously named Intelsat VI F-5, was a communications satellite operated by Intelsat. Launched in 1991, it was the fourth of five Intelsat VI satellites to be launched. The Intelsat VI series was constructed by Hughes Aircraft, based on the HS-389 satellite bus.

Intelsat II F-1, also known as Blue Bird was a communications satellite operated by Intelsat. Launched in 1966 it was intended for operations in geostationary orbit over the Pacific Ocean to provide a communications link between Australia and the United States, however a malfunction prevented the satellite from reaching its planned orbit.

Intelsat II F-3, also known as Canary Bird was a communications satellite operated by Intelsat. Launched in 1967 it was operated in geostationary orbit, spending most of its operational life at a longitude of 15 degrees west.

Intelsat II F-4 was a communications satellite operated by Intelsat. Launched in 1967 it was operated in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 176 degrees east and later 166 degrees west.

References

  1. "GOES-4". The GOES Program - ESE 40th Anniversary. NASA. Archived from the original on 2006-10-04. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  2. "GOES-4". NSSDC Master Catalog. US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  3. "Hughes Checks Out GOES-D". Flight International. 1980-08-16. p. 598.
  4. Krebs, Gunter. "GOES-4, 5, 6, G, 7". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  5. Wade, Mark. "GOES". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on February 21, 2002. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  6. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  7. McDowell, Jonathan. "Index". Geostationary Orbit Catalog. Jonathan's Space Page. Archived from the original on 2010-04-06. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  8. "CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CGMS ACTIVITIES" (PDF). CGMS. 2003-10-15. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-12-12. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  9. "Weather Eyes". Flight International. 1989-03-11. p. 27.