Earth from Orbit: NOAA Debuts First Imagery from GOES-18

Sun, 15 May 2022 20:05:19 GMT
Space Daily

Washington DC (SPX) May 12, 2022 On May 11, 2022, NOAA shared the first images of the Western...

On May 11, 2022, NOAA shared the first images of the Western Hemisphere from its GOES-18 satellite.

GOES-18 orbits 22,236 miles above the equator at the same speed the Earth rotates.

The ABI provides high-resolution imagery and atmospheric measurements for short-term forecasts and severe weather warnings.

GOES-18 will assist GOES-17 with GOES West operations in late summer 2022 and again in early fall.

NOAA plans for GOES-18 to replace GOES-17 as GOES West in early 2023.

Imagery from GOES-18 during the post-launch testing phase should be considered preliminary and non-operational.

L3Harris high-resolution weather imager capture first image from space Melbourne FL May 12 - The L3Harris Technologies-built high-resolution Advanced Baseline Imager onboard NOAA's newest weather satellite captured its first image since launching into space two months ago - a significant milestone prior to reaching full operational status.

Providing high-resolution imagery of weather and environmental systems using 16 spectral bands, the ABI onboard GOES-18 will keep watch over the western contiguous U.S., Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, Central America and the Pacific against devastating tornadoes, wildfires, dense fog, and other Pacific Ocean-based storms, such as cyclones and hurricanes.

"L3Harris' third Advanced Baseline Imager continues to aid NOAA and the National Weather Service in detecting and monitoring of severe storms, wildfires, and tornadoes, which enable more accurate warnings and severe weather forecasts," said Rob Mitrevski, Vice President and General Manager, Spectral Solutions, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris.

GOES-18 was called GOES-T prior to reaching geostationary orbit on March 14, and is slated to become GOES-West when fully operational.

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