Artist's impression of an HS-371 derived GOES satellite |
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Operator | NOAA/NASA |
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Major contractors | Hughes |
Bus | HS-371 |
Mission type | Weather |
Launch date | 22 May 1981 22:29 GMT |
Carrier rocket | Delta 3914 |
Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-17A |
Mission duration | 7 years (planned) 3 years (VISSR) 9 years (total) |
COSPAR ID | 1981-049A |
Mass | 660 kilograms (1,500 lb) |
Orbital elements | |
Regime | Operational: Geostationary Current: Graveyard |
Orbital period | 24 hours |
Longitude | 85° West (1981) 75° West (1981-1987) 106° West (1987-1988) 65° West (1988-1989) |
GOES 5, known as GOES-E before becoming operational, was a geostationary weather satellite which was operated by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system.[1] Launched in 1981, it was used for weather forecasting in the United States.
GOES 5 was built by Hughes Space and Communications, and was based around the HS-371 satellite bus. At launch it had a mass of 660 kilograms (1,500 lb),[2] with an expected operational lifespan of around seven years.
GOES-E was launched using a Delta 3914 carrier rocket[3] flying from Launch Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.[4] The launch occurred at 22:29 GMT on 22 May 1981.[5] The launch successfully placed GOES-E into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, from which it raised itself to geostationary orbit on 2 June by means of an onboard Star 27 apogee motor.[3][6]
Following insertion into geostationary orbit, GOES 5 was briefly placed at a longitude 85° West, however by the end of 1981, it had been moved to 75° West. It remained there until 1987, when it was moved to 106° West. In 1988 it was relocated to 65° West, where it operated until 1989.[4] The primary instrument carried aboard GOES 5, the Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer or VISSR, failed in 1984.[2] The GOES 1 and GOES 4 satellites were reactivated to fill the gap in coverage until a replacement could be launched. It was finally replaced by the ground spare, GOES-H, in 1987 after its intended replacement, GOES-G, failed to reach orbit. GOES 5 was retired to a graveyard orbit on 18 July 1990.[1][6]
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