asic Operation
Coverage
Major Missions
rbit
Altitude
Location
Velocity
irect Readout
Data
Image Timeliness
Reception antenna
RF Signal
Processed Data
Rate
Schedule
Signal Availability
U.S. METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITE SYSTEMS
SATELLITE COMPARISON
B
O
D
Geostationary
Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellite, (GOES)
Two satellite system covers area
from North to South America, from
Pacific to Atlantic locations
Hemisphere/Quadrants
- Earth Imaging & Data Collection
- Space Environment Monitoring
- Data Collection
- WEFAX Transmissions
VISSR Visible Infrared Spin Scan
Radiometer
VAS Atmospheric Sounder
SEM Space Environment Monitor
DCS Data Collection System
35,790 km (22,240 miles)
Clarke Belt* over Equator
GOES East, 75° West
GOES West, 135° West
6,800 mph (24 hour period)
WEFAX
Weather Facsimile Transmission
8 km resolution, visible
4 km resolution, infrared
Near Real Time
Dish (4 feet +)
1691 + MHz (to down converter)
240 lines/minute - 4 lines/second
WEFAX guide
Scheduled per 24 hours
Polar Orbiter
Television Infrared Observation Satellite,
(TIROS)
Maintains two satellites in Polar orbit at
all times: N to S (morning satellite)
S to N (afternoon satellite)
1,700 mile wide swath per pass
- AVHRR Advanced Very High
Resolution Radiometer SAR - TOVS TIROS Operational Vertical
Sounder - DCS Data Collection System
- SEM Space Environment Monitor
- Search & Rescue
- ERBE Earth Radiation Budget
Experiment - SBUV Solar Backscatter Ultra Violet
Radiometer
833 km (518 miles) AM orbit, southbound
870 km (541 miles) PM orbit, nort h b o u n d
9–11°, N to S, S to N,
Sun-synchronous
17,000 mph (101 minute period)
APT
Automatic Picture Transmission
4 km resolution
HRPT
High Resolution Picture Transmission
1.1 km resolution
Real Time Transmission
O m n i d i rectional or quadrifilar helix antenna
137–138 MHz
120 lines/minute - 2 lines/second APT
by prediction
two satellites cover entire Earth at least
four times daily
*See Glossary chart courtesy of John Tillery