NOAA’s Geostationary Satellite Systems, Today and through 2050

NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites R-Series (GOES-R) satellites provide real-time observations of more than half the globe – from the west coast of Africa to New Zealand, and from Antarctica to the Arctic Ocean – protecting the 1 billion people who live and work in the Americas, and guarding travelers across the neighboring oceans. The fourth and final GOES-R satellite, GOES-U, was launched in June 2024 and is currently undergoing on-orbit checkout with the intention for it to enter operational service as the GOES-East satellite in April 2025.

While the GOES-R Series satellites are planned to continue operations into the 2030s, NOAA has begun to develop the follow-on satellites under the Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) program. GeoXO will continue and improve the imagery and lightning mapping capability from GOES-R, and add hyperspectral sounding, ocean color, and atmospheric composition observations. As of this conference, the development teams have been selected for all five instruments and the spacecraft, and the program just completed the Mission Definition Review and is preparing for Key Decision Point B. The first GeoXO launch is targeted for 2032 and these satellites are expected to be operational into the 2050s.

This presentation provides a status on GOES-16 and GOES-18 in operation, and GOES-U checkout. It will also discuss the GeoXO program scope, status, timeline, expected performance based on the selected instruments and spacecraft, and user engagement activities.