The past decade has seen a tremendous change in the distribution of operational satellite data to key users. Systems such as GOES-TAP and the Satellite Field Distribution Facilities (SFDF), Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch Advanced Meteorological Satellite Demonstration and Interpretation System (RAMSDIS), Satellite Weather Information System (SWIS) and Micro Satellite Weather Information System (MICROSWIS) have been the mainstay for satellite data distribution and display up through the mid to late 90s. With the advent of NOAAPORT and AWIPS (Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System), the flow of real time digital satellite data and products to the National Weather Service increased significantly.

The next generation GOES-R geostationary satellite series will host a powerful multispectral imager and hyperspectral sensors, directed at acquiring significantly more information on the atmosphere, land, ocean, and coastal areas. In the GOES-R era, raw sensor data rates may reach as high as 132 Mbps, compared to 2.6 Mbps from each of today's GOES. NOAA is investigating alternatives, including the use of X-Band spectrum, for the raw sensor downlink to Wallops Island. The GOES re-broadcast to its U.S. and foreign users will continue in the L-band RF spectrum, but will be more efficiently used and will have an expanded bandwidth. The two types of data that are currently being considered for GOES-R data distribution are the availability of a full set of this data (GFUL) and a GOES-R Rebroadcast (GRB) of a yet to be determined subset of the GFUL data up to 24Mbps. GFUL contains the full ABI, HES, and other instruments Level 1b data with a data rate of more than 100 Mbps.

With the rapid changes in communications, many options exist for the re-distribution of the calibrated/navigated data and products in the GOES-R era (GOES-R satellite, commercial satellite, dedicated landlines, hybrid broadcasts consisting of both satellite and landlines). There are many design options possible that are currently under study by the three GOES-R Program Definition and Risk Reduction (PDRR) contractors. Fundamental to this is the continued use of satellite broadcasting. Many aspects of distribution are under investigation and have not yet been determined, for example, how much and what is the nature of the data that needs to be rebroadcast via the GOES-R satellite. The appropriate data format(s) for GOES sensor science data in the GOES-R era are also under study. The amount of radiance data versus products has not been determined regarding the GRB.

At this time, the infrastructure impact on user sites for the GOES-R series data to be acquired and processed has not been determined. Many current key data distribution systems such as NOAAPORT, McIDAS, and IDD have acknowledged the increased data rates and have begun discussions or planning for these large increases. The archive and access functionality is currently performed by the Comprehensive Large Array and Stewardship System (CLASS). This system exists and contains data from GOES and other observing systems, including POES and in the future NPOESS and GOES-R.