The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) on the GOES-R series

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-R series includes GOES-R/S/T/U. The first in the series is slated to launch in late 2016 and become operational in late 2017after a six month post-launch checkout and a six month extended validation phase. The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) is the advanced imager, with 16 spectral bands covering the visible, near-infrared and infrared portions of the electro-magnetic spectrum. Many attributes are improved on the ABI from the current GOES imagers, such as those relating to: spectral, spatial, temporal, radiometric, and image navigation/registration. From these data, many derived products will be generated and utilized in a large number of environmental applications including severe weather, tropical cyclones and hurricanes, aviation, natural hazards, the atmosphere, oceans, and the cryosphere.  This talk will supply an overview of the many steps that are being taken to prepare for the ABI data, including using simulated data and data from a similar instrument now operating over the western Pacific, the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI). If on-orbit ABI data are available, first light imagery will be shown.