GOES 1 (SMS-C) was a NASA-developed, NOAA-operated, geosynchronous, and operational
spacecraft. The spin-stabilized spacecraft carried (1) a visible infrared spin-scan radiometer
(VISSR) to provide high-quality day and night cloudcover data and to take radiance-derived
temperatures of the earth/atmosphere system, (2) a meteorological data collection and transmission
system to relay processed data from central weather facilities to APT-equipped regional stations
and to collect and retransmit data from remotely located earth-based platforms, and (3) a space
environment monitor (SEM) system to measure proton, electron, and solar X-ray fluxes and magnetic
fields. The cylindrically shaped spacecraft measured 190.5 cm in diameter and 230 cm in length,
exclusive of a magnetometer that extended an additional 83 cm beyond the cylinder shell.
The primary structural members were a honeycombed equipment shelf and thrust tube. The VISSR
telescope was mounted on the equipment shelf and viewed the earth through a special aperture
in the side of the spacecraft. A support structure extended radially from the thrust tube and
was affixed to the solar panels, which formed the outer walls of the spacecraft and provided the
primary source of electrical power. Located in the annulus-shaped space between the thrust tube
and the solar panels were stationkeeping and dynamics control equipment, batteries, and most of
the SEM equipment. Proper spacecraft attitude and spin rate (approximately 100 rpm) were maintained
by two separate sets of jet thrusters mounted around the spacecraft equator and activated by
ground command. The spacecraft used both UHF-band and S-band frequencies in its telemetry and
command subsystem. A low-power VHF transponder provided telemetry and command during launch and
then served as a backup for the primary subsystem once the spacecraft had attained synchronous
orbit. On December 1, 1978, responsibility for GOES 1 was turned over to ESA to be used as
part of GARP. It was stationed over the Indian Ocean and controlled by ESOC in Darmstadt, F.R.G.
In December 1979, it was returned to the control of NOAA and positioned at 135 deg W. When GOES
5 VAS experienced a failure on July 30, 1984, GOES 6 was moved east and GOES 1 was reactivated by
NOAA to provide visible imaging capability over the western United States. GOES 1 failed on
February 3, 1985.