NOAA's GOES R - next generation satellite

NOAA's next generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) beginning with GOES R is the follow-on to the GOES N-P series. GOES R is being developed for launch in the 2012 time frame to meet new requirements validated through a rigorous screening and verification process. It presents an opportunity to explore new instruments, satellite designs, and system architectures. NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) will explore if an alternative distributed architecture might be more cost-effective than continuing the current philosophy of combining all instruments onto one big spacecraft. GOES R improvements in environmental sensing instruments include an Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI); a Hyperspectral Environmental Suite (HES), capable of providing soundings and imagery; an Enhanced Solar X-ray Imager (ESXI); a Space Environment Monitor (SEM); and a Lightning Mapper (LM). NOAA is also investigating other possible operational instruments, such as a coronagraph solar imager, and a microwave sounder. NOAA will analyze the different architectures (distributed vs. consolidated), instruments (ABI, HES, SEM, SXI, LM) and orbits (GEO vs. MEO) to determine the optimal constellation coverage and communication configuration. ABI and HES sensors will support CONUS Coastal Waters (CW) and estuaries with timely imaging and sounding. The CW zone is defined as the ocean waters 400 miles adjacent to CONUS as well as all estuaries. HES will support coastal water ocean color and ocean optical properties at a resolution of 300 meters. ABI will support long wave IR measurements of sea surface temperatures (SST). Currently, ABI formulation studies are underway with three contractors. Overall systems concepts are under study following a Request for Information (RFI) from contract sources and meetings with industry regarding the overall approach. In the summer of 2003, procurement activities for concept studies for the HES were initiated with several contractors. Similar activities will be inaugurated for other instruments, ground systems and spacecraft concepts. This paper provides the latest status of these activities as well as an update on its Concept of Operations (CONORS).