GOES 1
NOAA weather satellite
title: "GOES 1" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["geostationary-operational-environmental-satellites", "spacecraft-launched-in-1975"] description: "NOAA weather satellite" topic_path: "general/geostationary-operational-environmental-satellites" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GOES_1" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary NOAA weather satellite ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox spaceflight"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | GOES-1 |
| names_list | GOES-A |
| SMS-C | |
| image | GOES-A encapsulation.jpg |
| image_caption | GOES-1 is prepared for launch |
| atop its Delta 2914 rocket. | |
| mission_type | Weather satellite |
| operator | NASA / NOAA |
| COSPAR_ID | 1975-100A |
| SATCAT | 08366 |
| mission_duration | |
| spacecraft_type | SMS |
| manufacturer | Ford Aerospace |
| launch_mass | 631 kg |
| dimensions | 190.5 cm (diameter) and 230 cm (length) |
| launch_date | 16 October 1975, 22:40:00 UTC |
| launch_rocket | Delta 2914 |
| launch_site | Cape Canaveral, LC-17B |
| launch_contractor | McDonnell Douglas |
| entered_service | 25 October 1975 (first image) |
| disposal_type | Decommissioned |
| deactivated | 7 March 1985 |
| orbit_reference | Geocentric orbit |
| orbit_regime | Geostationary orbit |
| orbit_slot | Indian Ocean |
| apsis | gee |
| :: |
| name = GOES-1 | names_list = GOES-A SMS-C | image = GOES-A encapsulation.jpg | image_caption = GOES-1 is prepared for launch atop its Delta 2914 rocket.
| mission_type = Weather satellite | operator = NASA / NOAA | COSPAR_ID = 1975-100A | SATCAT = 08366 | website = | mission_duration =
| spacecraft_type = SMS | spacecraft_bus = | manufacturer = Ford Aerospace | launch_mass = 631 kg | dimensions = 190.5 cm (diameter) and 230 cm (length) | power =
| launch_date = 16 October 1975, 22:40:00 UTC | launch_rocket = Delta 2914 | launch_site = Cape Canaveral, LC-17B | launch_contractor = McDonnell Douglas
| entered_service = 25 October 1975 (first image)
| disposal_type = Decommissioned | deactivated = 7 March 1985
| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit | orbit_regime = Geostationary orbit | orbit_longitude = | orbit_slot = Indian Ocean | apsis = gee GOES-1, designated GOES-A and SMS-C prior to entering service, was a weather satellite, developed by the NASA, operated by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It was the first Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) to be launched.
Launch
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/GOES-1_Spac0234.jpg" caption="GOES-A lifts off aboard Delta 2914 D116."] ::
GOES-A was launched atop a Delta 2914 from LC-17B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The launch occurred at 22:40:00 UTC on 16 October 1975, and left the satellite in a geostationary transfer orbit. Following launch, it raised itself to a geostationary orbit by means of its onboard SVM-5 apogee motor, at which time it was redesignated GOES-1.
Operations
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Early_GOES_Spac0174.jpg" caption="Artist's impression of GOES-1 in orbit"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/First_image_from_GOES_Spac0041.jpg" caption="The first image obtained from the GOES-1 satellite, 25 October 1975, 1645 UTC whilst the spacecraft was moving to its operational orbit above the indian ocean."] ::
It was positioned over the Indian Ocean to gather data for the Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP). GOES-1 was equipped with a Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer (VISSR), which provided day and night imagery of terrestrial cloud conditions. It returned its first image on 25 October 1975, nine days after launch. The satellite continuously monitored weather events and relayed this meteorological data from over 10,000 surface locations into a central processing center. The data was then incorporated into weather prediction models. It also carried a Space Environment Monitor (SEM) and a Data Collection System (DCS), derived from those used on TIROS satellites.
GOES-1 was replaced by GOES-3, which was launched in 1978. After finishing operations over the Indian Ocean, it was moved to replace SMS-2 over the Pacific Ocean. It remained operational there until 3 February 1985 and it was deactivated by NASA on 7 March 1985.
References
References
- "40 Years of GOES: The Anniversary of GOES-1 {{!}} NOAA NESDIS".
- Phenix, James E.. (1973). "Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer".
- "GOES-1". NASA.
- Davis, Gary. (October 2009). "History of the NOAA Satellite Program".
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::