GOES 5

GOES 5

Artist's impression of an HS-371 derived GOES satellite
Operator NOAA/NASA
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]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "GOES-5". The GOES Program - ESE 40th Anniversary. NASA. http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/text/history/goes/goes5.html. Retrieved 2009-08-15. 
  2. ^ a b "GOES 5". NSSDC Master Catalog. US National Space Science Data Center. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1981-049A. Retrieved 2009-08-15. 
  3. ^ a b Krebs, Gunter. "GOES 4, 5, 6, G, 7". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/goes-d.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-15. 
  4. ^ a b Wade, Mark. "GOES". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/craft/goes.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-15. 
  5. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt. Retrieved 2009-08-15. 
  6. ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Index". Geostationary Orbit Catalog. Jonathan's Space Page. http://planet4589.org/space/log/geo.date. Retrieved 2009-08-15.