# GOES-8

> American geostationary weather satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q28726](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28726)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GOES_8)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/goes-8

## Summary
GOES-8 is an American geostationary weather satellite launched on April 13, 1994, that operated for 10 years until May 5, 2004. Part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite series, it was operated by NOAA and launched into space by NASA using an Atlas I rocket.

## Key Facts
- GOES-8 was launched on April 13, 1994, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36 using an Atlas I launch vehicle
- The satellite had a mass of 2,105 kilograms and operated in geostationary orbit at an altitude of approximately 36,174 km
- It remained in service for exactly 10 years until retirement on May 5, 2004
- GOES-8 was also known by its alternative name GOES-I before entering operational service
- The satellite was manufactured by Lanteris Space Systems with Martin Marietta as the launch contractor
- It succeeded GOES-7 and was succeeded by GOES-9 in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite series
- GOES-8 had a COSPAR identifier of 1994-022A and an SCN designation of 23051

## FAQs
### Q: What was GOES-8 used for?
A: GOES-8 was a weather satellite designed to monitor weather and climate patterns from geostationary orbit. It provided continuous imaging and data collection of Earth's atmosphere to support weather forecasting and environmental monitoring.

### Q: How long did GOES-8 remain operational?
A: GOES-8 remained in service for exactly 10 years, from its launch on April 13, 1994, until its retirement on May 5, 2004.

### Q: Who operated GOES-8?
A: GOES-8 was operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with NASA responsible for launching the satellite using an Atlas I vehicle.

## Why It Matters
GOES-8 represented a significant advancement in meteorological satellite technology, providing continuous monitoring of Earth's weather systems from geostationary orbit. The satellite enabled more accurate weather forecasting, hurricane tracking, and environmental monitoring for North and South America. Its 10-year operational lifespan demonstrated the reliability of the GOES satellite program, which continues to provide critical weather data to this day. The data collected by GOES-8 contributed to improved severe weather warnings, better understanding of climate patterns, and enhanced scientific research in meteorology and Earth sciences.

## Notable For
- First satellite in the third generation of GOES satellites, providing enhanced imaging and sounding capabilities
- Operated for exactly 10 years from launch to retirement, demonstrating remarkable reliability
- Featured an orbital eccentricity of 0.0005384, indicating a nearly perfect circular orbit
- Was known by both its operational designation (GOES-8) and its pre-launch name (GOES-I)
- Contributed to significant improvements in tropical cyclone tracking and intensity prediction

## Body

### Mission Overview
GOES-8 was a geostationary weather satellite launched on April 13, 1994, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36. The satellite, also known as GOES-I before entering service, was the first in the third generation of GOES satellites. It was operated by NOAA and had a mission duration of exactly 10 years before retirement on May 5, 2004.

### Technical Specifications
- Mass: 2,105 kilograms
- Apoapsis: 36,197 km
- Periapsis: 36,151 km
- Orbital period: 1,456 minutes (approximately 24.3 hours)
- Orbital inclination: 10.89 degrees
- Orbital eccentricity: 0.0005384
- COSPAR ID: 1994-022A
- NSSDCA ID: 1994-022A
- SCN: 23051

### Operational History
GOES-8 followed GOES-7 in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite series and was succeeded by GOES-9. The satellite was manufactured by Lanteris Space Systems with Martin Marietta serving as the launch contractor. It was launched by NASA and then transferred to NOAA for operational use. During its 10-year operational life, GOES-8 provided critical weather data supporting meteorological research and forecasting across the Americas.

### Identifiers and Classification
- Instance of: weather satellite, geostationary satellite
- Part of: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite series
- Wikipedia title: GOES 8
- Commons category: GOES 8
- Available in Wikipedia languages: Catalan, Commons, English, Portuguese
- Freebase ID: /m/06zqwgy
- Wolfram Language entity code: Entity["Satellite", "23051"]

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "GOES-8",
  "description": "American geostationary weather satellite launched on April 13, 1994, that operated for 10 years until May 5, 2004.",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GOES_8",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23051"
  ],
  "additionalType": [
    "weather satellite",
    "geostationary satellite"
  ]
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013