Talk:Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite

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[edit] Satellite designation

Are the satellites really called GOES-A, GOES-B etc. ? In Encyclopedia Astronautica they're called GOES-1, GOES-2 etc., there's only one with a letter, GOES G. At this NOAA site you'll also find them with numbers instead of letters and it seems that there are only 12 satellites. 193.171.121.30 02:03, 19 Aug 2004 (UTC)

If you look at my original article, I cited my source as http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/goes/text/goes.databook.html. — マイケル ₪ 12:51, Aug 20, 2004 (UTC)

I see now, that was added after me...Well, it looks like User:Fleminra would be a better person to ask, because that was the user who originally added that information...My first logical guess would be that the model of the space craft is designated by a letter, while the physical satilite put into space is designated by a number. Just a guess though. — マイケル ₪ 13:14, Aug 20, 2004 (UTC)

The spacecraft are designated with letters from procurement through launch, then at some point, probably after in-orbit checkout, they are redesignated with a number. The only time that might matter is if, say, a rocket blows up, then I think they reallocate that number for a future spacecraft. Wherever there is a letter designation in the article, maybe we should include the number designation in parenthesis.. Fleminra 16:41, Aug 20, 2004 (UTC)

Thanks for the replies, so they were numbered as A=1, B=2, etc., G was a failure, H=7 ... M=12, and N, O, P and Q are not yet launched. 193.171.121.30 19:53, 24 Aug 2004 (UTC)

I worked on GOES-IJK/LM and the individual spacecraft were designated by letters until checkout on orbit and, if that is completed successfully, they acquire a number designation. This is slightly confusing for those involved in construction of the spacecraft, but it does allow the users of the data to not have to worry about missing numbers. This allows for launch failures (such as GOES-G) and for optional satellites that are not acquired. The designation GOES-IJK/LM refers to the fact that L&M were "options to buy" in the original contract. At present it appears that the Q satellite of the GOES-NO/PQ series will not be authorized. This URL shows some of the letter designators: http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/text/goesimbroch.html

This URL: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/sc-query.html can be queried for the GOES satellites and shows that the satellites had letter and number designations from GOES-1 (AKA GOES-A and SMS-C). Recollection is that the number designations were preferred and if both were used, the numbers came first e.g., GOES-1 (A) Goes_Guy 11-Sep-2006

[edit] Abbreviation

Does GOES stand for Geostational Orbiting Enviromental Satellite or Geostational Operating Enviromental Satellite? 70.20.163.199 03:34, 1 March 2007 (UTC)

You might look at the article, perhaps at the title of the article. It is near the top of the page, in large letters. (SEWilco 05:59, 1 March 2007 (UTC))