New GOES R-Series satellites to launch in 2015-


At all times, NOAA operates two Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) from a fixed position, 22,300 miles above the Earth. Additionally, NOAA keeps one GOES in orbital storage mode, ready to step in if one of the active satellites experiences trouble.

NOAA's geostationary satellites constantly monitor all weather conditions, from tornadoes, floods and snowstorms, to wildfires and developing tropical storms. Instruments on GOES also monitor solar activity.

GOES-R will also carry a new Geostationary Lightning Mapper that will provide for the first time a continuous surveillance of total lightning activity throughout the Americas and adjacent oceans.

more here:
[link to www.spacedaily.com]

Although we watch the GOES X-Ray flux plots here daily, I've never seen the actual sensing device. Here's the new GOES-R solar sensor array:

[link to www.goes-r.gov]

GOES-R Homepage:

[link to www.goes-r.gov]