NOAA Proposes New Constellation to Replace GOES-R Written 12 January 2021

Space News reports that NOAA’s National Satellite, Data and Information Service “is recommending flying three satellites over the United States in the satellite constellation that will follow the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R Series (GOES-R).” NOAA recommends operating two of the satellites “in orbits similar to those of the current GOES East and GOES West satellites.” Additionally, the agency “recommends placing a third spacecraft over the center of the United States, Pam Sullivan, GOES-R system program director, said Jan. 11 at the virtual American Meteorological Society meeting.” For the program to replace GEOS-R, dubbed Geostationary and Extended Orbits (Geo-XO), NOAA is looking to add instruments “to monitor air quality and ocean color.” NOAA “also expects to mount space weather instruments on Geo-XO satellites.”
Full Story (Space News)