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Satellites and Technology

The GOES-U Launch

A comic-book style illustration of a rocket launching, the GOES-U weather satellite with a partial reflection of Earth in its solar panels, a sun with a bursting solar flare, a tornado, the flames of a wildfire, clouds, a hurricane, and lightning over a city with text that says Crack!

Credit: NOAA/JPL-Caltech

In June 2024, the United States launched its latest weather satellite called GOES-U (GOES is short for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite). GOES-U will be the fourth and final satellite in the GOES-R group of satellites. From its orbit 22,000 miles above us, GOES-U keeps an eye on the weather and environmental conditions here on Earth.

Here is a list of just some of the things this weather satellite monitors:


GOES-U Art Challenge

Have you ever watched a lightning storm from your window at home? Did you know that scientists can use weather satellites to watch lightning from above, too?

In anticipation of the GOES-U launch, kids around the world created art to show what they thought lightning looks like from the ground, the sky, or even from a satellite! See some selections from the art challenge below.


GOES-U Art Challenge Selections

Draw how you imagine lightning to look!

Illustration of lightning striking through a castle floating in the sky.

Anna, 13

Side by side illustrations of a modern person understanding the science behind lightning and an ancient person scared of lightning.

Archan, 9

Illustration of lightning in a sky of dark clouds.

Arsh, 10

A cardboard box and construction paper depicting a scene of lightning striking the ground.

Caden, 10

Illustration of purple lightning in a dark sky with negative charges in the clouds and positive charges on the ground.

Elladya, 9

Illustration of lightning striking near a lake, with its reflection visible in the lake.

Evelyn, 11

Illustration of neon lines swirling in cloudy mist.

Ishaan, 8

Paper cutouts of lightning, clouds and a spacecraft.

Jana, 10

Paper cutouts representing the inside of a bedroom with lightning in the sky outside the window.

Kingston, 9

Various craft materials pasted together to depict lightning striking near a forest.

Klaudia, 6

Illustration of a city skyline with lightning striking from the clouds in the sky.

Leah, 11

Illustration of a lightning storm over the ocean, being watched by a spacecraft in the sky.

Lilly, 10

Paper cutouts of clouds in the sky with lightning below them.

Luna, 9

Illustration of lightning inside a glass container.

McKenzie, 10

Illustration of a person inside a building, looking out the window at a lightning storm over the city skyline in the distance.

Naisha, 7

Illustration of a lightning storm over three mountains, each of which have a concerned look on their face.

Olimani, 12

Illustration of lightning striking a house and trees. The house and trees are on fire. A tornado is approaching the house and trees. The tornado has consumed a cow and some trees.

Quinn, 10

Paper cutouts depicting lightning in the sky and a grassy scene on the ground.

Rupam, 11

Illustration of lightning in a dark sky with the silhouette of a cactus on the ground in the foreground.

Sharadha, 12

Illustration of three clouds in the sky with lightning striking from them to some power poles below. The lightning makes the shape of human bodies with the clouds as heads, so they appear to be dancing in the sky.

Sophia, 10

Illustration of the Earth with some lightning on its surface and a spacecraft observing from orbit.

Taifur, 5

Illustration of two spacecraft in orbit working together to predict lightning strikes on Earth.

Varun, 10

Photo of color blocks assembled to look like a cloud with lightning below it.

Zeke, 7

How is GOES-U keeping an eye on space weather?



GOES-U Launch Bingo

Color version of the Weather Satellite Launch Bingo card available for PDF download below.

Credit: NOAA/JPL-Caltech

For the launch of GOES-U, we created a launch bingo game. Here’s how to play:

  1. Download and print the GOES-U launch bingo cards at the links below.
  2. Watch the GOES-U launch broadcast video and mark off the words that you hear.
  3. When you get five words in a row, say “BINGO!”

Here are the links to download the bingo cards.

Download GOES-U Launch Bingo Card 1

Download GOES-U Launch Bingo Card 2

Download GOES-U Launch Bingo Card 3

Download GOES-U Launch Bingo Card 4

Download GOES-U Launch Bingo Card 5


What Does the Sun Look Like Up Close?

Image showing 6 different color composites of the sun captured by the GOES-16 SUVI instrument.

Credit: NOAA/JPL-Caltech

Want to use an interactive slider to see the sun in different wavelengths of light? Click here to check it out and learn more about these images, captured by the Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI) located on the GOES-R series weather satellites. What different features of the sun can you spot?


Additional resources:

To celebrate the successful launch of GOES-U, also check out our printable coloring sheets and activity book!