GOES 8
Artist's impression of a GOES-I series satellite in orbit
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| Mission type | Weather satellite |
|---|---|
| Operator | NOAA / NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 1994-022A |
| SATCAT no. | 23051 |
| Mission duration | 3-5 years (planned) 10 years (achieved) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | LS-1300 |
| Manufacturer | Space Systems/Loral |
| Launch mass | 2,105 kilograms (4,641 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 13 April 1994, 06:04 UTC |
| Rocket | Atlas I |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-36B |
| Contractor | Martin Marietta |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Decommissioned |
| Deactivated | 5 May 2004 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Longitude | 75° West |
| Slot | GOES-EAST (1995-2003) |
| Eccentricity | 0.0005384 |
| Perigee | 36,151 kilometres (22,463 mi) |
| Apogee | 36,197 kilometres (22,492 mi) |
| Inclination | 10.89° |
| Period | 1,456.0 minutes |
GOES 8, known as GOES-I before becoming operational, was an American weather satellite, which formed part of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system. It was launched in 1994, and operated until 2004 when it was retired and boosted to a graveyard orbit. At launch, the satellite had a mass of 2,105 kilograms (4,641 lb), and an expected operational lifespan of three or five years. It was built by Space Systems/Loral, based on the LS-1300 satellite bus, and was the first of five GOES-I series satellites to be launched.
GOES 8 was also featured in the 1996 film Twister.
GOES-I was launched aboard a Martin Marietta Atlas I rocket, flying from Launch Complex 36B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The launch occurred at 06:04 GMT on 13 April 1994, and placed the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. It was then raised into geostationary orbit by means of an R-4D-11 apogee motor. During the first burn of the apogee motor, an unusually high temperature was detected in one of the flanges upon which a thruster was mounted, however later analysis, based on satellites using similar thruster systems, demonstrated that it was still acceptable. During the third burn, a malfunction of the computer controlling the attitude control system caused several manoeuvring thrusters to fire. This resulted in the burn being aborted.
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