First Images of the World from GOES-18

Storms, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, clouds… The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) new satellite, GOES-18, observes all of these events, helping us better predict and understand weather, climate problems and natural disasters. it will be. Originally known as GOES-T, the satellite was sent into orbit by NASA on March 1.

Now, GOES-18 has sent its first images of our home Earth. The images once again reveal the beauty of the blue planet and how ‘fragile’ it actually is.

GOES-18 gets 30 times more data

NOAA shared the first images from the satellite on Wednesday. In addition to the images of the Earth, the effects of storms, dust and forest fires on the planet were also included in the images.

GOES-18, a fixed satellite, will continuously image the Western Hemisphere from its position 35,800 kilometers above the equator. Alreen Knaub, deputy program manager of GOES-T, who stated that they examined space air, solar air and world weather with the new satellite, said in a statement on the subject, “We receive 30 times more data on this satellite, as in previous satellites.”

Newly sent satellite images show that GOES-18 is working fine. “GOES-18 is currently undergoing post-launch testing, verification and calibration of its instruments and systems to prepare them for operations,” NOAA said in a statement.

NOAA states that if they do not encounter any problems, the satellite will be renamed “GOES West” in early 2023, replacing the technically troubled GOES-17 satellite. However, GOES-18 is expected to play a crucial role in weather forecasting, monitoring of storms and disasters.

Here is the first stunning video from GOES-18: