GOES-13 is scheduled to replace GOES-12 as the GOES-East operational spacecraft on April 14, 2010

GOES-13 is scheduled to replace GOES-12 as the GOES-East operational spacecraft on April 14, 2010

GOES-13 was launched on May 24, 2006. This spacecraft is the first in the series of GOES-N satellites. GOES-13 carried the same imager and sounder payload as GOES-12, but the new spacecraft bus will allow it to operate through eclipse and
keep out zone periods. The new GOES East images will have increased navigation, registration and radiometric accuracy.

GOES-13 was brought out of storage on 1/27/10 into Pre-Opreational mode. GOES-13 has already began INR & GVAR recovery and will begin imaging and sounding in a GOES-East schedule tomorrow. Starting the 23rd, the Office of Satellite Operations will begin the eastward drift of GOES-13 at approximately 0.5 degrees per day.

GOES-13 will approach 81W on 4/14/10. At this time, GOES-13 GVAR and LRIT will be relayed through the GOES-12 downlink. Ancillary services (DCS/EMWIN/SARSAT) will remain on board GOES-12. GOES-13 will be declared GOES-East in the NOAA GOES Constellation. On 4/26/10, GVAR will be switched from GOES-12 to GOES-13 when GOES-13 is at 75.5W. GOES-13 will stop drift. Ancillary services will switch to GOES-13 at this time. On 4/27/10, GOES-12 will begin eastward drift to 60W in order to replace GOES-10, which was de-orbited in December 2009. Imaging operations for GOES-South America will begin on or about 5/11/10. GOES-12 is expected to arrive on station at 60W on 5/17/10.

Source: Satellite Services Division, User Services NOAA/NESDIS/OSDPD