Harris Corporation Delivers
Simulators to Prepare Weather Monitoring Organizations for
Next-Generation GOES-R Satellite Products
September 3, 2013
Harris Corporation has
delivered five simulators that will help the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) user community
to prepare for the advent of a new generation of
geostationary weather satellites.
The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite — R
Series (GOES-R) will provide continuous imagery and
atmospheric measurements of Earth's Western Hemisphere and
space weather monitoring. The advanced spacecraft and
instrument technology used on the GOES-R series will result
in more timely and accurate weather forecasts by supplying
meteorological data with much greater detail and clarity
than the current GOES satellites provide. The GOES-R series
will be a primary tool for the detection and tracking of
hurricanes and severe weather.
To accommodate the anticipated 40-times increase in data
to be ingested, processed and distributed, receiving systems
operated by satellite weather data users must be replaced or
modified to support this high-resolution data -- similar to
upgrading a TV antenna to receive High Definition video
broadcasts at home. The Harris GOES-R Rebroadcast simulators
produce a full-resolution stream of science data similar to
what will be produced during actual operations of the
satellites. This will enable GOES data users, such as the
National Hurricane Center, to test receivers well in advance
of the launch date to ensure a smooth transition.
"None of the existing receivers will work with this new
generation of weather data," said Romy Olaisen, vice
president, Civil Programs, Harris Government Communications
Systems. "Harris worked very closely with the customer, and
within a challenging schedule, to ensure that the simulators
meet the unique needs of the weather community and aids
vendors in manufacturing receivers."
Harris is the prime contractor and systems integrator for
the contract to produce the GOES-R Ground Segment, which
will process approximately 60 times more data than is
possible today, and deliver weather products to the National
Weather Service and more than 10,000 other direct users
