GOES-18 Operational Readiness Timeline - Total Operational Weather Readiness - Satellites (TOWR-S)
All Events
March 1 - March 23, 2022 (L+22): Launch and Orbit Raising
After its successful launch on March 1, 2022, GOES-T was redesignated as GOES-18 on March 14 (L+13) upon achieving geostationary orbit at 89.5 degrees West. The GOES transition plan can be viewed on the GOES-R website.
March 23 - April 22 (L+52): Data Flows Initiated; Begin Part 1
GOES-18 began Part 1 of the Post-Launch Testing (PLT) process as the Goddard Magnetometer (GMAG) entered its PLT immediately after reaching orbit. The Extreme Ultraviolet and X-ray Irradiance Sensors (EXIS) followed suit a week later on March 30. The Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) entered PLT with first light on April 14. The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) initiated data flows the week after, with the Visible and Near-Infrared (VNIR) channels seeing first light on April 21 and the IR channels on April 22. ABI L2+ derived products immediately entered the Post-Launch Product Testing (PLPT) phase.
April 25 - May 4 (L+64): All Instruments in PLT; First Images Released
The Space Environment In-Situ Suite (SEISS) instrument initiated data flows and saw first light on April 25. It was the first instrument to produce public images, on May 3. Finally the Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI) entered PLT on May 4; the same day images from GMAG were published.
May 9 (L+69): GOES-18 GRB Test
The GOES-18 Rebroadcast (GRB) successfully relayed data from GOES-16 ABI and other GOES-17 instruments to the GRB antennas. This validated the GOES-18 GRB would operate properly.
May 11 (L+71): ABI Images Released, L1b & CMI Beta Certification
To much fanfare, images from all 16 ABI channels were released, as well as a Full Disk GeoColor image. The ABI L1b & Cloud and Moisture Imagery (CMI) products also reached Beta Maturity, the first science products to be validated.
May 16 - June 7 (L+98): Drift to 136.8W; GLM Images Released; Begin Part 2
PLT activities were paused as the satellite shifted to its temporary orbit at 136.5 degrees West. GMAG continued to produce science data, and the first GLM images were published on June 2. With the drift complete on June 6, GOES-18 entered Part 2 of PLT/PLPT on June 7.
June 14 (L+105): Interleave Test
GOES-18 ABI Sectorized Cloud and Moisture Imagery (SCMI) replaced GOES-17 SCMI on the Satellite Broadcast Network (SBN) and GRB for 4 hours, from 1600Z to 2000Z. This was a test of the interleave configuration in preparation for the multi-week interleave periods to come in August and October. The GOES-18 data provided an effective replacement for the GOES-17; in fact some users reported an improvement in image quality. The two satellites had nearly identical viewpoints, as they were only 0.4 degrees of longitude apart. More information about this interleave test can be found at OSPO.
GOES-18 Full Disk Channel 9 - June 14
GOES-18 CONUS Channel 7 - June 14
GOES-18 Alaska Mesosector Channel 9 - June 14
June 16 - June 28 (L+119): EXIS and SUVI Progress
EXIS saw first light on June 16. SUVI additionally saw first light on June 23.
July 5 - July 22 (L+143): Final Orbit Nudge; GMAG and EXIS Beta Validation; EXIS and SUVI Images
GOES-18 took 16 days to shift into its permanent orbit at 137.0 degrees West, completing its nudge on July 21. GOES-17 is also moving, temporarily parking at 137.3 degrees West on July 15. Meanwhile, GMAG achieved Beta maturity on July 11, and EXIS on July 18. The first public image release from EXIS was released on July 13, with the first SUVI image release on July 19.
July 28 (L+149): ABI Provisional Maturity
The ABI L1b & SCMI imagery was certified as Provisional through the Peer Stakeholder-Product Validation Review (PS-PVR) on July 28, indicating its fitness for use in operations, and sharing of images and data files with the caveat “GOES-18 Preliminary, Non-Operational Data” (outside of the interleave periods). Some AWIPS sites can also obtain GOES-18 ABI data in AWIPS via cloud-based “Supplemental Operations”.
August 1 - September 8 (L+191): Interleave; SUVI and GMAG Validation
Beginning at 1700Z on August 1, the GOES-17 ABI L1b radiances and L2 SCMI replaced the GOES-18 L1b radiances and CMI. Until September 8, GOES-18 ABI data obtained through the SBN or GRB will be treated as nominal GOES-West operational data. Whether the data is sourced from GOES-18 or -17, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) headers and SBN channel remain the same. The satellite source can be confirmed in the product metadata. For AWIPS users, “GOES-18” should appear in the legend of imagery bands selected in CAVE. No caveat note is needed when publishing the data during the interleave. More information can be found in the SCN and the notice from NESDIS. Additionally, the SEISS reached Beta maturity on August 1, SUVI did so on August 4.
September 13 - October 12 (L+225): Continued Product Validation
The SEISS Solar & Galactic Protons (SGPS) product became Provisional on September 13, then GMAG on September 16. Group 1 of the ABI L2+ products includes Cloud Mask, Cloud Phase, Cloud Top products, and Derived Motion Winds - only one of these (Cloud Mask) was declared Provisional on September 28; a decision on the other products is on hold pending an investigation into discrepancies in the Cloud Phase product. The SEISS Magnetospheric Particle Sensor - High Energy (MPS-Hi) products were evaluated on October 11. Group 2 of the ABI L2+ products - including Fire Hot Spot (FHS), Soundings, Total Precipitable Water (TPW), and Derived Stability Indices (DSI) - were evaluated on October 12.
*October 13 - November 14 (L+258): Final Interleave; GLM, EXIS & ABI Group 3 Validation
From October 13 until November 16, the GOES-18 L1b radiances and CMI replaced the GOES-17 ABI L1b radiances and L2 SCMI over the SBN and GRB. This interleave period was shorter, but otherwise identical, to the one in August and September. No caveat note is needed when sharing or displaying these images during this period. More information can be found in the SCN.
The GLM products reached Provisional maturity on October 31. On November 9, the third of four groups of ABI L2+ products were evaluated. This includes Aerosol Detection (ADP), Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Downward Shortwave Radiation (DSR): Surface, Land Surface Albedo (LSA), Land Surface Reflectance (LSR), Land Surface Temperature (LST), Rain Rate (RRQPE), and Reflected Shortwave Radiation: Top of Atmosphere (RSR: TOA).
*November 15 - December 29 (L+303): Products Provisional, End of Interleave
The SEISS Energetic Heavy Ions (EHIS) was designated Provisional on November 15. Interleave ended on November 16. The EXIS products were designated Provisional on November 17. Group 4 of the ABI L2+ products, including the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and COMP (Cloud Optical and Microphysical Properties) products were declared Provisional on November 22, as was the SUVI L1b data. SEISS MPS-Lo was evaluated on November 29. ABI L2 Cloud Phase products were reassessed and declared Provisional on December 1. Fractional Snow Cover from ABI was evaluated on December 9. ABI Ice products were evaluated on December 29.
January 4, 2023 (L+308): GOES-18 Designated GOES-West
On January 4, 2023 at 1800 UTC, GOES-18 was declared operational as GOES-West. GOES-18 is now GOES-West, at 137.0 degrees West. No caveat note is needed when sharing or displaying GOES-18 data products. GOES-17 instruments are shut down before drifting from 137.3 to 104.7 degrees West for storage mode. More information can be found here.
CY2023: PLPT Complete; Products Fully Validated
The Ice Motion science product from ABI is set to be evaluated for Provisional maturity on March 7. The schedule for the PS-PVR for Fully Validated maturity of each product will be announced at a later date.