(9 
March 15, 1978 
SMS/GOES 
SMS (Synchronous Meteorological Satellite) is the NASA prototype in the 
GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) NOAA system 
Launch date Significance 
SMS-1 May 17, 1974 NASA prototype. First geosynchronous operational 
satellite with VISSR . 
SM$S-2 Februaxy 6, 1975 Began first 2-satellite system for near- 
continuous viewing of U.S. and adjacent waters 
GOES-1 October 16, 1975 First NOAA operational geosynchronous satellite 
GOES-2 June 16, 1977 
GOES-C May 1978 (in case of malfunction of orbiting spacecraft) 
ORBIT: Earth-synchronous (geostationary). One spacecraft positioned at 75° W 
(off Brazil), one at 135° W (south of Alaska), and one at 105° W (on standby) 
Altitude: 35,800 km (average) . 
Inclination: Less than 0.5? 
Coverage: 60? N-S. Western Europe and Africa westward to western Pacific Ocean, 
including all of North and South America 
SENSORS: 
Wavelength (um) Resolution (km) 
Visible Infrared Spin-Scan 
Radiometer (VISSR) 
Visible 0.55-0.70 0.80 : 
Infrared 10.5-12.6 8.0 (temperature range 
. 180-315? K) 
Space Environment Monitor (SEM) 
Magnetometer Solar X-ray telescope Energetic particle sensors 
Meteorological data collection and transmission system fron up to 10,000 
platforns every 6 hours 
DESCRIPTION: Cylindrical, with magnetometer extending 84 cm 
Height: 231 cm Diameter: 190.5 Weight: 305 kg 
PURPOSE: Provides day and night cloud cover data every 30 minutes 
! Measures radiance temperatures of Earth and atmosphere 
SEM data used to forecast space disturbances 
Correlative data for Seasat experiments 
DATA AVAILABILITY: Data transmitted to Wallops, Va., Command and Data Acquisition 
Station (CDA) : : 
Weather data relayed to Department of Commerce World Weather Building, Camp 
Springs, Md., and disseminated to users via telephone system. 
SEM data relayed to NOAA research labs in Boulder, Colorado. 
FOR MORE INFORMATION: GOES/SMS Users' Guide, by R. P. Corbell, C. J. Callahan, 
and W. J. Kotsch 
ROAA and NASA, Washington, D. C., 118 p.