GOES provide advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth’s Western Hemisphere, real-time mapping of lightning activity, and monitoring of solar activity and space weather. GOES satellites orbit 22,236 miles above Earth’s equator, at speeds equal to the Earth's rotation.

The GOES system uses geosynchronous equatorial satellites that, since the launch of SMS-1 in 1974, have been a basic element of U.S. weather monitoring and forecasting. The procurement, design, and manufacture of GOES satellites is overseen by NASA. NOAA is the official provider of both GOES terrestrial data and GOES space weather data.

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system (GOES) are a series of geosynchronous satellites operated by the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The GOES system provides us with solar imagery, magnetometer data, solar X-ray data and data on high energy...

For five decades, NOAA and NASA have partnered to advance NOAA satellite observations from geostationary orbit. The GOES-19 GLM is now continuously observing lightning over the Western Hemisphere. On Sept. 18, 2024, NOAA shared the first images of the Western Hemisphere from its GOES-19 satellite.

The GOES-R Series significantly improves the detection and observation of environmental phenomena that directly affect public safety, protection of property and our nation’s economic health and prosperity.

GOES-East - Latest Full Disk Images - NOAA / NESDIS / STAR

Since 1975, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) have provided continuous imagery and data on atmospheric conditions and solar activity (space weather). They have even aided in search and rescue of people in distress.