# GOES-7

> American geostationary weather satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q5514061](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5514061)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GOES_7)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/goes-7

## Summary
GOES-7 (also known as GOES-H) was an American geostationary weather satellite operated by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Launched on February 26, 1987, it served as part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system to monitor weather and climate. The satellite remained operational until its retirement on April 12, 2012.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Weather satellite; Geostationary satellite.
- **Launch Date:** February 26, 1987, at 23:05 (time unspecified, likely UTC).
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Delta 3000.
- **Contractors:** Manufactured by Hughes Aircraft Company; Launch services provided by McDonnell Douglas.
- **Operators:** National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- **Orbit:** Geostationary orbit with an apoapsis of 35,898 km, periapsis of 35,879 km, and a 24-hour orbital period.
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 1987-022A; NSSDCA ID 1987-022A; Satellite Catalog Number 17561.
- **Mission Sequence:** Followed GOES-6; succeeded by GOES-8.

## FAQs
### Q: What was GOES-7?
A: GOES-7 was an American weather satellite positioned in geostationary orbit to monitor weather and climate conditions. It was part of the larger Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) program.

### Q: When was GOES-7 launched and how long did it operate?
A: GOES-7 was launched on February 26, 1987. It provided service for 25 years before being retired on April 12, 2012.

### Q: Who manufactured and operated GOES-7?
A: The satellite was manufactured by Hughes Aircraft Company and launched by McDonnell Douglas using a Delta 3000 rocket. It was jointly operated by NOAA and NASA.

## Why It Matters
GOES-7 served as a critical component of the United States' weather forecasting and environmental monitoring infrastructure for over two decades. As a geostationary satellite, it provided continuous coverage of the Western Hemisphere, enabling meteorologists to track weather systems, storms, and climate patterns in real-time.

Its position in the geostationary belt (approximately 35,800 km altitude) allowed for fixed-point observation, essential for consistent data collection. The satellite bridged the gap between the earlier GOES-6 and the next-generation GOES-8, ensuring the continuity of the GOES program. Its longevity—operating from 1987 until 2012—demonstrates the durability of the hardware provided by Hughes Aircraft and the effectiveness of the joint management by NOAA and NASA.

## Notable For
- **Long Operational Life:** The satellite operated for 25 years (1987–2012), far exceeding the design life typical of early weather satellites.
- **Dual-Agency Operation:** It was a joint project managed by both NOAA and NASA.
- **Geostationary Capability:** It maintained a fixed position relative to Earth's rotation with a 24-hour orbital period, allowing for constant monitoring.
- **Specific Launch Configuration:** It was launched on a Delta 3000 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.

## Body

### Mission Profile
GOES-7, designated internally as GOES-H, was launched to continue the mission of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite program. The launch took place on February 26, 1987, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17. The launch vehicle used was a Delta 3000, provided by contractor McDonnell Douglas. The satellite successfully entered geostationary orbit and began operations managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

### Technical Specifications
The satellite was constructed by Hughes Aircraft Company. It was designed to maintain a geostationary orbit, characterized by an orbital period of 24 hours, matching the Earth's rotation.
*   **Apoapsis:** 35,898 kilometres
*   **Periapsis:** 35,879 kilometres
*   **Orbital Inclination:** 15.09 degrees
*   **Orbital Eccentricity:** 0.0002306

### Operational Timeline
GOES-7 followed its predecessor, GOES-6, in the series. It provided data until its service retirement on April 12, 2012. It was eventually succeeded in the GOES series by GOES-8.

### Identifiers and Cataloging
The satellite is cataloged in international and national databases under the following identifiers:
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1987-022A
*   **NSSDCA ID:** 1987-022A
*   **Satellite Catalog Number:** 17561

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "GOES-7",
  "alternateName": "GOES-H",
  "description": "An American geostationary weather satellite operated by NOAA and NASA from 1987 to 2012.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GOES_7"
  ],
  "additionalType": "WeatherSatellite",
  "identifier": {
    "@type": "PropertyValue",
    "name": "COSPAR ID",
    "value": "1987-022A"
  }
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report