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SMS-1(SMS-A) was launched from Cape Canaveral, FL. It was the first geostationary meteorological satellite.
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GOES-2 was placed in orbit directly over the equator at 60° W to replace SMS.
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It was the first geostationary satellite to provide continuous vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature and moisture, which its primary instrument, the VISSR Atmospheric Sounder (VAS), provided. GOES-4 was placed in orbit at 135° W to replace the failing GOES-3.
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It was designed to replace GOES-4 and was originally placed in orbit at 136° W. After GOES-5 failed, it was moved to a central location at 98° W. When GOES-7 was placed in service, it was returned to its original location.
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Launched from a Delta 3914 launch vehicle. The spacecraft did not reach operational orbit because of a failure in the launch vehicle.
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It placed in orbit at 75° W. In addition to the same instrument complement as the earlier GOES, GOES-7 carried experimental search and rescue equipment that allowed near-instantaneous detection of emergency distress signals on the ground transmitting at 406 MHz
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It was the first in a new series of three axis stabilized GOES that provided significant improvements over the previous GOES spin-stabilized spacecraft in weather imagery and atmospheric sounding information. The satellite was equipped with a separate Imager and Sounder, which allowed simultaneous and independent imaging and sounding. It was deactivated in April 2003 and de-orbited in May 2004.
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Into a geostationary orbit at 135° W. It was deactivated on July 28, 1998, because of failing bearings in the momentum wheels. In 2002-2003, GOES-9 was revived by NOAA to provide a temporary on-orbit replacement for Japan's failing GMS-5 satellite. It then returned to on-orbit storage until it was de-orbited in June 2007.
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It is the first GOES to fly an SXI-type instrument. In April 2003, GOES-12 became GOES-East at 75° W. Running low on fuel, GOES-12 was decommissioned as GOES-East in April 2010, and moved to 60° W to devote scan time to covering South America.
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During the summer of 2010, GOES-15 will undergo post-launch testing, and then join GOES-14 in on-orbit storage at 105° W. GOES-15 is the last one in the family GOES-N/O/P.
