The Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellite system is the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (abbreviated as NOAA ) is an United States scientific and regulatory agency within the United States Department of Commerce that forecasts weather, monitors oceanic and atmospheric conditi ...

(NOAA)'s planned replacement for the existing

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), operated by the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service division, supports weather fo ...

(GOES) satellites. These new geostationary satellites will make weather, ocean, and climate observations. The project aims to begin observations in the early 2030s as the GOES-R satellites reach their operational lifetime. The first GeoXO satellite is scheduled to be launched in 2032, with two more following in 2035, and the mission will maintain and advance NOAA’s geostationary observations through 2055. NASA is developing the satellites and awarded multiple "Phase A" contracts in 2021 and 2022, including ones with Lockheed Martin and

Maxar Maxar Technologies Inc. is a space technology company headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, United States, specializing in manufacturing communication, Earth observation, radar, and on-orbit servicing satellites, satellite products, and relate ...

to study using their LM-2100 and 1300-class

satellite bus A satellite bus (or spacecraft bus) is the main body and structural component of a satellite or spacecraft, in which the payload and all scientific instruments are held. Bus-derived satellites are opposed to specially produced satellites. Bus- ...

ses, respectively. The program was official approved by the

United States Department of Commerce The United States Department of Commerce is an executive department of the U.S. federal government concerned with creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity. Among its tasks are gathering economic and demographic data for busi ...

in December 2022, moving the program from the study phase to the development phase, and in March 2023 NASA and NOAA awarded

L3Harris L3Harris Technologies (L3Harris) is an American technology company, defense contractor, and information technology services provider that produces C6ISR systems and products, wireless equipment, tactical radios, avionics and electronic systems, ...

a $765.5 million contract to develop the first two GeoXO Imager (GXI) instruments.

References

External links

NOAA's GeoXO page
Proposed satellites 2030s in spaceflight {{spacecraft-stub