GOES-U Post-Launch Instrument and Product Test Plans

GOES-U, the fourth and last satellite in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R) series, is set to launch from Cape Canaveral in late spring 2024. Once GOES-U reaches geostationary orbit, its designation will change to GOES-19, and it will enter a nominal six month Post-Launch Testing (PLT) checkout phase. The planning for GOES-U PLT is being built off of lessons learned from the PLT phases of GOES-16 through GOES-18, as well as advances and maturity of the ground processing algorithms, and operational needs for NOAA. GOES-U will feature the addition of the Compact Coronagraph (CCOR) instrument to the Sun Pointing Platform alongside the continuity instruments SUVI and EXIS. CCOR will come with its own set of post-launch tests and unique product generation outside of the GOES-R ground segment at the Space Weather Prediction Center. For the existing GOES-R series product portfolio, schedules to achieve Beta and Provisional Validation maturity milestones at the earliest possible date are in development, building off the success of achieving these milestones for all Level 1b products within 6 months for GOES-18. This talk will review nominal PLT plans, including highlights of new or impactful instrument-level tests, product-level tests, improvements to instrumentation on GOES-19, and product maturity milestones.

Session: 20th Annual Symposium on Operational Environmental Satellite Systems