# GOES-18

> American geostationary weather satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q18479950](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18479950)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GOES-18)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/goes-18

## Summary
GOES-18 is an American geostationary weather satellite, also known by its alias GOES-T. Launched on March 1, 2022, it is part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series. The satellite is designed to monitor weather and climate from its geostationary orbit, providing crucial data for forecasting and environmental observation.

## Key Facts
*   GOES-18 was launched on March 1, 2022, at 14:38:00 UTC.
*   It is operated and owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which also funded its development.
*   The satellite was manufactured by Lockheed Martin Space.
*   It was launched aboard an Atlas V 541 launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41.
*   GOES-18 is a part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite series, following GOES-17 and preceding GOES-19.
*   It carries scientific instruments including the Advanced Baseline Imager and the Geostationary Lightning Mapper.
*   The satellite has a launch weight of 5192 kg and an empty weight of 2857 kg.
*   Its dimensions are 6.1 meters in length, 5.6 meters in width, and a height of 3.9 meters (referring to the spacecraft solar array).
*   GOES-18 orbits in a geostationary orbit.

## FAQs
### Q: What is GOES-18?
A: GOES-18 is an American geostationary weather satellite, also known as GOES-T. It is designed to monitor weather and climate, providing continuous data from its geostationary orbit to support forecasting and environmental studies.

### Q: When was GOES-18 launched?
A: GOES-18 was launched on March 1, 2022, at 14:38:00 UTC. The launch was conducted from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41 using an Atlas V 541 launch vehicle.

### Q: Who operates GOES-18?
A: GOES-18 is operated and owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA is also responsible for funding the satellite's mission.

### Q: What scientific instruments does GOES-18 carry?
A: GOES-18 is equipped with key scientific instruments, including the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) and the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM). These instruments enable detailed observation of weather patterns and lightning activity.

## Why It Matters
GOES-18 plays a critical role in enhancing weather forecasting and climate monitoring capabilities for the United States. As a geostationary satellite, it provides continuous, high-resolution imagery and data over a fixed region, which is essential for tracking and predicting severe weather events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) delivers detailed observations of Earth's atmosphere, land, and oceans, while the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) detects lightning, offering crucial early warnings for developing storms.

The real-time data from GOES-18 significantly improves the accuracy of weather predictions, allowing for better preparedness and response to natural disasters. This contributes directly to public safety, protects infrastructure, and supports various economic sectors reliant on accurate weather information, including agriculture, aviation, and maritime operations. By providing a continuous stream of environmental intelligence, GOES-18 helps scientists and forecasters understand complex climate patterns and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather, making it an indispensable asset for environmental stewardship and national security.

## Notable For
*   Being a key component of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series, providing continuous weather and climate monitoring.
*   Carrying advanced scientific instruments, including the Advanced Baseline Imager and the Geostationary Lightning Mapper, for enhanced data collection.
*   Its significant launch weight of 5192 kg, indicating a robust platform designed for long-term operational service.
*   Operating from a geostationary orbit, which enables constant surveillance over a specific geographic area.

## Body

### Overview and Purpose
GOES-18, also known by its alias GOES-T, is an American geostationary weather satellite. It is classified as both a weather satellite and a geostationary satellite, with its primary mission being to monitor weather and climate. The satellite is an integral part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series, a program dedicated to weather forecasting for the United States.

### Development and Funding
The manufacturing of GOES-18 was carried out by Lockheed Martin Space. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) holds the roles of funder, operator, and owner of the GOES-18 satellite.

### Launch Details
The launch of GOES-18 occurred on March 1, 2022, at 14:38:00 UTC. The launch site was Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41. The satellite was propelled into orbit by an Atlas V 541 launch vehicle, specifically identified as AV-095. United Launch Alliance served as the launch contractor for this mission.

### Orbital Characteristics and Design
GOES-18 maintains a geostationary orbit. Its launch weight was recorded at 5192 kg, with an empty weight of 2857 kg. The satellite measures 6.1 meters in length, 5.6 meters in width, and has a height of 3.9 meters, which pertains to the spacecraft solar array. The spacecraft bus utilized is an A2100 model. For electric power, GOES-18 relies on a spacecraft solar array, while its propulsion system incorporates a LEROS engine, specifically the LEROS-1c.

### Scientific Instruments
The satellite is equipped with critical scientific instruments to fulfill its monitoring objectives:
*   **Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI)**
*   **Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM)**

### Series and Identifiers
GOES-18 is positioned in the GOES series after GOES-17 and before GOES-19. Its unique identifiers include a Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) of 51850, a COSPAR ID of 2022-021A, and an NSSDCA ID of 2022-021A. The country of origin for GOES-18 is the United States.

### Online Presence
Additional information about GOES-18 is available on its official website, https://www.goes-r.gov/. The satellite is also documented on Wikipedia under the title "GOES-18" and has a dedicated Commons category named "GOES 18".

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## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/goes-r.htm)
2. [Source](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/goes-r-series.html)
3. [Source](https://blog.ulalaunch.com/blog/goes-t-meet-rocketship-ulas-vessel-that-makes-deliveries)
4. [Source](https://www.space.com/goes-t-noaa-weather-satellite-launch)
5. Jonathan's Space Report
6. [Source](https://www.goes-r.gov/spacesegment/spacecraft.html)
7. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/dec/HQ_C08067_GOES.html)