GOES 2

{{Short description|NOAA weather satellite}}

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = GOES-2

| image = Early GOES Spac0174.jpg

| image_caption = Artist's impression of an SMS-series GOES satellite in orbit

| mission_type = Weather satellite

| operator = NOAA / NASA

| website =

| COSPAR_ID = 1977-048A

| SATCAT = 10061

| mission_duration = 24 years

| spacecraft_type = SMS

| spacecraft_bus =

| manufacturer = Ford Aerospace

| dry_mass =

| launch_mass = {{convert|295|kg}}

| power =

| launch_date = {{start-date|16 June 1977, 10:51:00|timezone=yes}} UTC

| launch_rocket = Delta 2914

| launch_site = Cape Canaveral LC-17B

| launch_contractor = McDonnell Douglas

| entered_service =

| disposal_type = Decommissioned

| deactivated = {{end-date|5 May 2001, 21:08|timezone=yes}} UTC

| orbit_epoch = 17 May 2016, 10:12:31 UTC[http://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=10061 GOES-2 - Orbit]. Heavens Above. Retrieved 2016-17-05.

| orbit_reference = Geocentric

| orbit_regime = Geostationary

| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|35972|km|mi}}

| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|36094|km|mi}}

| orbit_inclination = 13.7696º

| orbit_period = 24 hours

| orbit_longitude = 75° West (1977-1978)
100-110° West (1978-1984)
112-114° West (1984-1990)
60° West (1990-1992)
135° West (1992-1995)
177° West (1995-2001)

| orbit_slot =

| apsis = gee

}}

GOES-2, known as GOES-B before becoming operational, was a geostationary weather satellite which was operated by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as part of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system.{{cite web|url=http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/text/history/goes/goes2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004131503/http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/text/history/goes/goes2.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2006-10-04|title=GOES-2|publisher=NASA|work=The GOES Program - ESE 40th Anniversary|accessdate=2009-08-12}} GOES-2 was built by Ford Aerospace, and was based on the satellite bus developed for the Synchronous Meteorological Satellite programme. At launch it had a mass of {{convert|295|kg}}.{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/goes-a_sms.htm|title=SMS 1, 2 / GOES 1, 2, 3|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|accessdate=2009-08-12}} It was positioned in geostationary orbit, from where it was used for weather forecasting in the United States. Following its retirement as a weather satellite, it was used as a communications satellite until its final decommissioning in 2001.

File:GOES-B Spac0251.jpg

GOES-B was launched using a Delta 2914 carrier rocket flying from Launch Complex 17B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/craft/goes.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020221162356/http://www.astronautix.com/craft/goes.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 21, 2002|first=Mark|last=Wade|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|title=GOES|accessdate=2009-08-12}} The launch occurred at 10:51:00 GMT on 16 June 1977.{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt|title=Launch Log|last=McDowell|first=Jonathan|publisher=Jonathan's Space Page|accessdate=2009-08-12}} The launch successfully placed GOES-B into a geostationary transfer orbit, from which it raised itself to geostationary orbit by means of an onboard SVM-5 apogee motor. Its insertion into geosynchronous orbit occurred at 03:26 GMT on 17 June.{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/geo.date|title=Index|work=Geostationary Orbit Catalog|last=McDowell|first=Jonathan|publisher=Jonathan's Space Page|accessdate=2009-08-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406015538/http://www.planet4589.org/space/log/geo.date|archive-date=2010-04-06|url-status=dead}}

Following on-orbit testing, GOES-B was redesignated GOES-2, and replaced SMS-1 at a longitude of 60 degrees west. It was operated as a weather satellite at several different positions until 1993, and was then placed into storage. It was reactivated as a communications satellite in 1995, and moved to 177° West. It was used by Peacesat to provide communications services to islands in the Pacific Ocean, a role in which it was replaced by GOES 7 in 1999, and by the US National Science Foundation for communications with the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station. On 5 May 2001, it was retired to a graveyard orbit. At 21:08 GMT, two hours after the last manoeuvre to remove it from geosynchronous orbit, GOES-2 was commanded to deactivate its communications system, preventing future ground commands being sent to it.

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