Expanding GOES-R’s User-Focused Observational Capabilities

GOES-R is entering its 8th year of providing critical high-quality geostationary observations. Despite the maturity of the GOES-R series, which launched its fourth and final satellite, GOES-19, on June 25, 2024, OSPO continues to expand and grow its user-focused capabilities. This includes the continued support of GOES-R ABI Mesoscale Domain Sector (MDS) requests for international users and researchers plus new tools and processes to better serve the needs of all users. A highlight of 2024 was the use of GOES-R MDS to follow the path of the moon’s shadow as it crossed the Northern Hemisphere during the Total Solar Eclipse of 2024. To accomplish this, a strategy for the approval and commanding of the MDS was needed in order to keep the area of totality in the field of view. An overview of this and other MDS request advancements and how they can help improve awareness and aid in the request process will be presented.

Other GOES-R instruments also provide critical space weather observations to forecasters and researchers. In an effort to maximize the utility of the GOES-R instruments, OSPO has added the SUVI Extended Coronal Imaging (ECI) as a new on-demand capability for space weather users. In order to create this capability, new request and approval procedures were developed to ensure proper coordination and concurrence among stakeholders. The new process was put into practice for the first time in the Spring of 2024 when an ECI campaign was requested for multiple events of interest to solar researchers, including the Total Solar Eclipse of 2024.