Orbital Traffic All objects

Geostationary

EWS-G3 (GOES 14)

Geostationary Weather (Spare) · NOAA / NASA

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America's on-orbit spare — a fully operational weather satellite kept in standby above the Americas, ready to activate within hours if a primary GOES fails. It proved its value in 2012 when NOAA activated it during Superstorm Sandy, adding extra coverage as the historic storm carved up the East Coast. Not every hero is in active service.

Its orbit

Orbit
Geostationaryappears to hang motionless over one spot on the equator
Altitude
22,271–22,283 mi (35,842–35,861 km)
Inclination
1.9°
One orbit
24.0 hoursabout one orbit a day
NORAD ID
35491
Int’l designator
2009-033A
Launched
2009

Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.

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