The Pre-launch History of the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) on GOES-R (Invited Presentation)

The pre-launch history and evolution of the next generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) will be covered. As with any instrument, the ABI leverages heritage instruments and the input from many. These heritage instruments include aircraft instruments, previous GOES, other geostationary sensors, and both research and operational polar-orbiters. In the late 1990s, the ABI was proposed as an eight-channel imager, all with fairly wide instrument spectral responses. Over time, eight more bands were added to better meet the stated requirements. In general, the spectral bands were made narrower. The ABI is much improved compared to the current GOES-13/15 Imagers. The ABI will improve upon the current GOES Imager with more spectral bands (factor of 3), higher spatial resolutions (factor of 4), faster imaging (factor of 5), better navigation, and more accurate calibration. To better prepare for the GOES-R series, NOAA operated GOES-14 in an experimental rapid scan 1-minute mode, called Super Rapid Scan Operations for GOES-R (SRSOR), which emulates the high temporal resolution sampling of the mesoscale region scanning of the ABI on GOES-R. The next generation geostationary satellite series will offer a continuation of current products and services and enable improved and new capabilities. The ABI on the GOES-R series will monitor the weather, hazards, oceans, climate, and the environment.