NOAA GEO GS SE RFI Attachment 1 GEO Ground System Background.pdf

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and

Information Service (NESDIS)

GEO Ground System Background

December 2024

U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS)

Office of Geostationary Earth Orbit Observations (GEO)

NOAA GEO Ground

System Background

BACKGROUND

The mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is to:

1. Understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean, and coasts

2. Share that knowledge and information with others

3. Conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources

NOAA is constantly observing, measuring, monitoring, collecting and analyzing environmental data. NOAA translates those publicly available data into Earth system models and information as well as tools, predictions and projections for public use. NOAA’s trusted data are the basis for the daily weather and air-quality forecasts. Geostationary weather satellites are one of the primary tools used to observe, measure, and monitor the Earth’s environmental data. Department of

Commerce Primary Mission Essential Function (PMEF) #2 is to “Provide Satellite Imagery:

Collect ad provide the Nation with critical intelligence data, imagery, and other essential information for predictive environmental and atmospheric modeling systems and space-based distress alert systems by operating NOA-controlled satellites, communications equipment and associated systems.”

To support the NOAA mission, and fulfill PMEF #2, NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) Office of Geostationary Earth Orbit Observations

(GEO) Ground Project Management Office (PMO) seeks to evolve the current GEO Ground

System to support continuity of current NOAA geostationary satellite missions and future

NOAA geostationary satellite and space weather (SWx) missions. To maintain continuity, the

GEO Ground System will need to adapt to support new missions while being sustained through the mid 2050s. Evolving the GEO Ground System should identify opportunities to simplify the current design of the system, take advantage of emerging technologies where appropriate, enable system agility, and improve scalability & durability.

NESDIS & GEO PROGRAM OVERVIEW

NESDIS Overview

NESDIS supports NOAA’s mission of Science, Service, and Stewardship through their satellite missions, data centers, data and information products and services. It is an end-to-end responsibility that underpins NOAA’s value to the Nation. The United States depends on NOAA to provide satellite data and imagery for meteorological forecasts, space weather warnings and alerts, and emergency services to support continuity of government.

NESDIS, one of the Line Offices within NOAA, is responsible for the collection and provision of the critical satellite observations of Earth and the Earth/Sun system, and other essential environmental information needed for disaster preparedness, disaster response and recovery and the protection of life and property. The organization of NESDIS is shown in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1: NESDIS Organization

The Office of Geostationary Earth Orbit Observations

The NESDIS GEO Office manages the development, operationalization, and sustainment of

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites – R Series (GOES-R) and the Geostationary

Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellite. The GEO program is a collaborative development and acquisition effort between NOAA and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

(NASA) to develop, launch, and operationalize the satellites. Leadership positions within the program are jointly staffed by NOAA and NASA.

The GEO Office is organized into a Program Office, Program Office support groups, a GEO

Ground Project, and Flight Projects for each mission. While NOAA is responsible for the overall execution of the program, NASA has responsibilities for executing the Flight Project and NOAA has responsibility for executing the Ground Project. The GOES-R.gov website contains an organizational chart depicting this office structure.

Geostationary Weather Satellites

Geostationary satellites circle the Earth in geosynchronous orbit, which means they orbit the

Earth’s equatorial plane at a speed matching the Earth’s rotation. This allows them to stay in a fixed position in the sky, remaining stationary with respect to a point on the ground. GOES-R series satellites are NOAA’s current generation of geostationary weather satellites. GOES satellites continually view the Western Hemisphere from approximately 22,300 miles above

Earth. GOES West (GOES-W) is positioned at ~137°W and GOES East (GOES-E) is positioned at ~75°W.

The GOES-R Series is a four-satellite program within NESDIS that includes GOES-16, GOES-

17, GOES-18, and GOES-19, each with an expected operational lifetime of 15 years (10 years of operations plus 5 years of storage). All four satellites in the GOES-R Series are currently on orbit. Two of the satellites are actively collecting weather data (GOES-E and GOES-W) and are referred to as “operational,” while the others are maintained in “storage” as backups.

The GOES-R Series satellites include multiple science instruments and auxiliary communications payloads. Additionally, GOES-R Series provides a set of communications services (Unique Payload Services) in support of the Data Collection System (DCS), High-Rate

Information Transmission/ Emergency Managers Weather Information Network

(HRIT/EMWIN), and Search-and-Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT). For information on the instruments and the data produced please refer to the GOES-R website.

The GEO Office is in the early design phase for the next generation of geostationary weather satellites known as GeoXO. When operational, GeoXO will consist of three satellites operating in different orbital positions in geostationary orbit (East, West, and Center) plus spare satellites ready to be moved into operational status when necessary. GeoXO satellites will offer similar capabilities to the existing GOES-R series satellites with improvements to better serve user needs. These improvements include more channels and higher resolution for the imager and three new instrument types, including instruments for measuring Atmospheric Composition and

Ocean Color and a sounding instrument. For more information on GeoXO instruments and the data produced, please refer to the GeoXO mission website.

Space Weather Satellites

The GEO Ground System will also support operations of the Space Weather Follow-On

Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite scheduled for launch in 2025. The SWFO-L1 satellite mission will use a suite of instruments to make in-situ measurements of the solar wind thermal plasma and magnetic field, as well as a Compact Coronagraph (CCOR) instrument to detect Coronal

Mass Ejections (CME).

SWFO is not a geostationary orbit satellite. The “L1” in SWFO-L1 refers to where the satellite will travel in the solar system to monitor and observe the Sun’s conditions with an unobstructed view of the Sun. Lagrange points are positions in space where objects sent there tend to stay put.

At Lagrange points, the gravitational pull of two large masses precisely equals the centripetal force required for a small object to move with them. These points in space can be used by spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption needed to remain in position. In the Earth-Sun system, Lagrange-1, or L1, is between Earth and the Sun about 1.5 million km (900,000 miles) from

Earth. This is where SWFO-L1 will sit to observe the Sun and collect data.

GEO Ground Enterprise Roadmap

The GEO Ground System was originally designed and built solely to support the GOES-R satellites and was originally called the GOES-R Ground System. With the incorporation of

SWFO-L1 capabilities the system was renamed as the GEO Ground System to reflect the evolving enterprise scale of the system. The GEO Ground Project is in the process of updating existing documentation to utilize the term GEO Ground System, but readers should be aware that some documentation may still refer to the GOES-R Ground System so these terms can be used interchangeably. The future GEO Ground System will continue to support the GOES-R series and SWFO-L1 satellites, as well as the Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellites.

The ground capabilities necessary to support the GeoXO mission will be implemented as an evolution of the existing GEO Ground System that will also continue to include heritage GOES -

R capabilities. This is a departure from previous NESDIS geostationary weather missions where a new system was designed and built for each satellite generation. Based on the January 2024

GOES flyout estimates, as well as predicted lifespans, the recommended evolution should take into account the timelines shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 Flyout plan of missions supported by GEO Ground System

GEO GROUND SYSTEM PLANNED EVOLUTION

The sections below describe the current, planned interim and final desired state of the GEO

Ground System.

Current State of the GEO Ground System – Overview

The GEO Ground System includes multiple functional elements - Mission Management (MM) for command and control, Product Generation/Product Distribution (PG/PD), also known as Data

Operations (DO), Enterprise Management (EM), as well as the Antenna element. Infrastructure

Services (IS) is a support element. These categories have been defined as a basis for grouping functional attributes of the Ground System and are not necessarily intended to specify an implementation of the system. The specification for the current system is provided as an attachment (Attachment 5, GGSS F&PS). Table 1 GEO Ground System Functional Elements provides a summary of the GEO Ground System functional elements as well as the SWFO-L1 mission elements integrated into the Ground System. The GEO Ground System is a key piece in

NESDIS ability to satisfy PMEF #2 and provide weather observations. As a result, the GEO

Ground System capabilities are considered National Critical Functions and must be in continuous operations. Failure of the GEO Ground System to meet functional and performance requirements represents a risk to life and property.

Table 1 GEO Ground System Functional Elements

Element Description

Infrastructure and Platform

Services (IS)

IS provides the hardware that is necessary to support the computing, storage, and networking necessary for all elements.

The IS includes a Timing and Frequency Reference System (TFRS) at each site.

Platform services include security and support functions such as: identity & access management, security scanning, configuration management, antivirus, remote access, and security logging.

GEO Ground Enterprise Roadmap

CY▸

QTR▸ 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

GOES-16

GOES-17

GOES-18

GOES-19

SWFO-L1

SW Next L1a

SpWx GEO

SW Next L1b

GEO-I1

GEO-I2

GEO-S1

2033 2034 2035 2036 203720322027 2028 2029 2030 2031

Storage

Operational

Storage

Operational Life Estimate (TBD)

Potenti a lly s upporting 8 s pacecraft simultaneously

Operational (5-year design life with 10 years of consumables onboard)

Life Estimate (TBD)

Element Description

Enterprise

Management

(EM)

EM is the software that supports all operational functions by supervising the elements that comprise the operational systems and networks for the GEO Ground System. While direct control of various co components may be implemented within the individual elements, EM provides a high-level layer of supervision over the end-to-end Ground System. Ground System operators at all sites have access to the EM functionality for insight into their local site and into the distributed

Ground System components, infrastructure, and interfaces.

Mission

Management

(MM)

MM encompasses all operational functions of the spacecraft and instruments which includes

Telemetry and Commanding (T&C), mission planning, engineering data trending, orbit & attitude analysis and maneuver planning.

MM archives all engineering telemetry data for the life of the GOES-R Program.

MM can utilize the local Space-to-Ground Communication (SGC) equipment to communicate with the spacecraft either via GEO GS dedicated antennas or via assets from the NASA Near Space

Network (NSN). In this context the SGC equipment includes Front-End-Processor (FEP), Modem and command encryptors.

Data

Operations

(DO)

DO combines the functions of Product Generation (PG) and Product Distribution (PD).

PG processes the raw telemetry coming from the spacecraft into usable weather data and higher order products. The PG function creates Level 1b and Level 2+ products for the full GOES-R core product set. Product Generation operates on a continuous basis, meeting latency and availability requirements. PG also creates the GRB data set for transmission to GOES-West and

GOES-East for rebroadcast via the satellite to direct readout users.

PD provides the generated weather data to GOES-R external and internal interfaces. The most critical external interface is the National Weather Service (NWS) Advanced Weather Interactive

Processing System (AWIPS) which receives data directly out of the GEO Ground System from both primary and redundant sites. PD also delivers date to the NESDIS Product Distribution and

Access (PDA) system which is responsible for making data available to other GEO weather data users. Lastly the GEO GS makes data available to internal mission partners, and to the National

Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), via the GeoProduct Access System (GPAS)

A key component of the DO functionality is a Product Monitor (PM) component capable of displaying Level 1b instrument data received or transmitted as the GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) and monitoring the radiometric and Image Navigation and Registration (INR) performance.

The Product levels are defined as follows:

• Level 0 Unprocessed instrument data at full resolution

• Level 1b Level 0 data with radiometric and geometric correction applied to produce parameters in physical units

• Level 2+ Derived environmental variables with spatial and temporal resolution comparable to

Level 1 data

Antennas The GS has six (6) dedicated 16.4-meter “Hurricane Rated” antennas located at NOAA’s WCDAS in Wallops, VA, and NOAA’s CBU in Fairmont, WV (3 at each site). These tri-band (X-band, L-band, S-Band) antennas are used for communication with the GOES-R Series satellites, including transmission of GRB and HRIT/EMWIN data. These antennas are designed to operate through sustained wind speeds as high as 110 mph and survive sustained wind speeds as high as 150 mph.

The antenna element includes the Intermediate Frequency Distribution Switch (IFDS) at each site.

Element Description

SWFO

Command and Control

(C2)

The GEO Ground System hosts the SWFO-L1 mission Command and Control (C2) system software on a shared infrastructure. The SWFO-L1 software is hosted in separate virtual machines on the GEO Ground System infrastructure and data flows unique to SWFO-L1 are logically separated in the shared network.

SWFO C2 encompasses all operational functions of the spacecraft and instruments which includes

Telemetry and Commanding (T&C), mission planning, engineering data trending, orbit & attitude analysis and maneuver planning.

SWFO

Antenna

Network

(SAN)

SAN includes dedicated SWFO antennas located at WCDAS and CBU but also leverages commercial antenna capabilities to provide coverage over the full SWFO-L1 orbit.

SAN includes FEP/SGC capabilities.

SAN leverages GEO GS networking and IT Security functions.

The GEO Ground System is currently deployed across a number of locations. Those deployment locations and key capabilities are outlined in Table 2 GEO Ground System Deployment Locations.

Table 2 GEO Ground System Deployment Locations

Site/Location Description/Capabilities

NOAA Satellite Operations

Facility (NSOF) in Suitland, MD

• Under nominal conditions operations staff are located at this facility

• Primary Mission Management (MM)

• Level 2+ Product Generation (PG)

• Product Distribution (PD) to NESDIS PDA

Wallops Command and Data

Acquisition Station (WCDAS), located in Wallops, VA

• Primary space communications services, including three of the 16.4-meter antennas

• Primary MM data processing

• Level 1b PG

• Selected L2 Product Generation: Production of the Key Performance

Parameters (KPP) which is Cloud and Moisture Imagery (CMI) as well as

Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) production

• PD functions to deliver CMI/GLM to the NWS

• Generation and uplink of GOES-R Rebroadcast (GRB)

GOES-R remote backup portion of the NOAA Consolidated Back Up

(CBU), also known as the Remote

Back Up (RBU), located at

Fairmont, WV

• Backup space communications services, including three of the 16.4-meter antennas

• Completely independent backup for the MM and PG/PD functions performed at WCDAS

• Capable of concurrent and remote operations from NSOF and WCDAS.

Operational Support Location 1

(OSL1) within L3Harris facility in

Melbourne, FL

• Provide additional GS operator workstation positions and WAN connectivity to the WCDAS/NSOF/CBU that provides workstation access to support sustainment functions such as testing and deploying updates to the field, troubleshooting and problem resolution, and system monitoring.

• OSL1 contains no servers hosting operational functions such as satellite command and control.

OSL2 within National Center for

Weather and Climate Prediction

(NCWCP) in College Park, MD

• WAN connectivity to the NSOF that provides workstation access to Level

2+ DO in support of L2+ product development, testing and deployment.

• OSL2 contains no servers hosting operational functions such as satellite command and control.

• OSL2 will be decommissioned after the GOES-19 Post-Launch Testing.

GeoCloud - Amazon Web Services

(AWS) Hosted cloud instance

• Provides non-mission-critical access to GOES-R products and file services for GOES mission partners via GPAS.

• Provides capability to export files out of the on-premise system for download to local devices.

Figure 3 shows the current high-level overview of the GOES-R GS, the deployed locations, and primary interfaces. More detail can be found in the attached TO-20 Wall Chart (Attachment 2, Wall Chart 7036394 Rev AH).

Figure 3 GEO Ground System Overview (Current)

GeoCloud Services SEIT-019A-MSCDR2-R20.vsdx

14 October 2024

WCDASNSOFCBU

GRB

TLM

CMD

AWIPS

Sectorized CMI Gridded GLM

L0, L1b, L2+, GRB Sectorized CMI, Gridded GLM

Product Users

L0 Pkt, GRB

Enterprise Management

- Monitor

- Supervise

L1b, L2+

Raw Data, GRB, TLM

Sectorized CMI Gridded GLM

Enterprise Management

- Monitor

- Supervise

Product Distribution

- Forma t

- Secto rize

- Distribute

A n c ill a ry

D a ta

GRB,

CMD

GRB

CMD

TLM

CLASS

L0, L1b, L2+, GRB Sectorized CMI, Gridded GLM

HRIT/EMWIN

GL0ASc

GRB

L1b,L2+

GOES East

GOES West

Mission Management

- TT&C

Product Generation

- L0

- L1b

- L2+ GLM

- L2+ CMI

- GRB

Product Distribution

- Forma t

- Secto rize

- Distribute

Product Distribution

- Format

- Distribute

L0 Pkt, GRB

GRB

Raw Data, GRB, TLM

GRB,

CMD

Enterprise Management

- Monitor

- Supervise

Product Distribution & Access (PDA)

GOES-R Antenna

HRIT/EMWIN

GOES-R Antenna

Mission Management

- TT&C

Product Generation

- L0

- L1b

- L2+ GLM

- L2+ CMI

- GLM

L2+

L0 (CCOR-1)L0 (CCOR-1)

NCEI-NC

SWPC/SWPC APS

Mission Management

- TT&C

Product Generation

- Recover L1b

- L2+

L0, L1b, L2+

SCMI, GGLM

GPAS USER

2eGRES 2eGRES 2eGRES

2 eGRESc eGRESc USER

L0, L2+CMI,

L2+GLM

L0, L2+CMI,

L2+GLM

eGRES

GeoStream GeoStream USER

L0, L1b, L2+

SWFO L0

SCMI, GGLM

GRB

L0

L0

GPAS

DCS

Effectivity E01: SWFO

SWFO L0

Packet Data

S W

FO

L

D a ta

S tr e a m

SWFO L0

Packet Data

GEO Ground System Current State

SWFO Antenna Network

SWFO C2

SWFO Antenna Network

SWFO C2

TLM,

Ranging

CMD,

Ranging

TLM,

Ranging

CMD,

Ranging

Primary Processing

Backup Processing

Backup Ground Processing

External Systems

Primary Ground Processing

NOAA5050

LEGEND

Administrative

SWFO-L1

Mission

Figure 4 gives a “by the numbers” view of the size and scope of the GEO Ground System.

Figure 4 GOES-R Ground System By the Numbers

System Modernization Activities Through 2028

Current GEO Ground System sustainment activities include migration of Data Operations (DO) and Mission Life Storage (MLS) data storage functions to a cloud-based implementation. In addition to modernization, this migration enables a simplification of the on-premises solution, allowing the re-use of spares from elements replaced by cloud capability or no longer needed after the GOES-19 launch. This will avoid the need for tech refresh of some portion of the existing on-premises system, while improving security, and facilitating scalability and extensibility. The GEO Ground Project anticipates completion of DO cloud migration and on-premises simplification by the completion of the GGSS contract. In contrast to Figure 3 GEO

Ground System Overview (Current) above, Figure 5: GEO Ground System Overview (GGSS End

State) represents the planned state of the Ground System after completion of cloud migration. A description / draft of the expected changes to the functional and performance specifications that reflect this planned state is provided as attachments 4 and 5 (Attachment 4, Memo Planned

Updates to the GGSS F&PS; Attachment 5, GGSS F&PS).

Figure 5: GEO Ground System Overview (GGSS End State)

GEO Ground System Projected state end of GGSS

GCCS

L2+ Product Generation & Distribution

GRB

GRB

L1b Product Generation & Distribution

WCDASNSOFCBU

TLM

CMD

Enterprise Management

- Monitor

- Supervise

Raw Data, GRB, TLM

Enterprise Management

- Monitor

- Supervise

CMD

CMD

TLM

GOES East

GOES West

Mission Management

- TT&C

Raw Data, GRB, TLM

CMD

Enterprise Management

- Monitor

- Supervise

GOES-R Antenna GOES-R Antenna

Mission Management

- TT&C

Mission Management

- TT&C

2eGRES 2eGRES 2eGRESS W

FO

L

P a c ke t

D a ta

S W

FO

L

D a ta

S tr e a m

S W

FO

L

P a c ke t D a ta

L0 Pkt, GRB

HRIT/EMWIN

GRB

HRIT/EMWIN

DCS

L0 Pkt, GRB

S W

FO

L

D a ta S tr e a m

NCCF

GeoCloud Services

L0, L1b, GRB

SCMI, GGLM

GL0ASc NCEI-NC

SWPC/SWPC APS

L0, L1b, L2+

SCMI, GGLM

GPAS USER

2 eGRESc eGRESc USEReGRES

L0

L0

GPAS

Ancillary Data

GRB

L2+

Sectorized CMI Gridded GLM

L2+

SWFO L0

Product Dissemination

Service

AWIPS

L1 b

, L

L0, L1b, SCMI, GGLM

GeoStream GeoStream USER

L0 (CCOR-1)

GRB

Product Users

CLASS

SWFO Antenna Network

SWFO C2

SWFO Antenna Network

SWFO C2

TLM,

RangingCMD, Ranging

TLM,

Ranging

CMD,

Ranging

L1 b

, S C

M I, G

G L

M

SEIT-019A-MSCDR2-R20.vsdx 14 October 2024

Effectivity E04: NCCF Product Dissemination Service

Operational

Backup Ground Processing

External Systems

Primary Ground Processing

SWFO-L1

Mission

LEGEND

Primary Processing Backup Processing

Administrative

NOAA5065-2

NOAA5065

FISMA

NOAA5050

Figure 6 illustrates the current GEO Ground System data distribution system with more detail available in the attached GEO Cloud Wall Chart (Attachment 3, GEO Cloud Capabilities).

Figure 6 Cloud-Based GEO Ground System Data Distribution

The Future of GEO Ground System (After 2028) – Overview

The future of GEO Ground System should enable continuing multi-mission support while streamlining maintenance, sustainment, and operations. As a multi-mission ground system, the

GEO Ground System will continue supporting the current GOES-R series satellites, SWFO-L1, the future GeoXO missions, and possible additional Space Weather Office (SWO) missions.

The main functional differences between the GeoXO and GOES-R missions that must be considered for the GEO Ground System evolution are:

• Addition of a third operational satellite (Center) between the existing East and West operational locations. The constellation will eventually include operational and spare satellites for each position.

• Evolution to 8x5 operations support.

• Retirement of current spacecraft at end of life, with corresponding removal of their footprint from GEO Ground System.

• Portions of the Data Operations capabilities, migrated to the NCCF for GeoXO. NCCF will be responsible for L2+ product generation and all data distribution.

• L1b products generated from new instruments including Hyperspectral IR Sounder (GXS), Ocean Color (OCX) Instrument and Atmospheric Composition (ACX) Instrument and a potential Partner Payload.

GEO Ground System Projected state at end GGSS

GeoCloud

• GPAS

• eGRESc Service

• GeoStream Service

Security Services Infrastructure Svcs

NCCF

• Secure Ingest Service

• Enterprise Services

• Product Dissemination

SWPC

• Ops Interface

• Test I nterface

GEO Ground

WCDAS

• SOZ, SOZ DMZ

• Ant, SGC, Sims

• MM

• Simplified EM

• SOZ Workstations

AWIPS

• ANCF (ops IF)

• BNCF (ops IF)

• TNCF (test IF)

GEO Ground

NSOF

• SOZ, SOZ DMZ

• SGC, Sims

• MM

• Simplified EM

• SOZ Workstations

GEO Ground

CBU

• SOZ, SOZ DMZ

• Ant, SGC, Sims

• MM

• Simplified EM

• SOZ Workstations

NESDIS & OSL1

Workstations

NESDIS & OSL1

Workstations

Satellites: G19, L1 GOES 19: CCOR L0 Data Stream

SWFO-L1: L0 Data Stream

Workstation Sessions

Satellites: EWTS

• L2

Workstation Sessions

Satellites: EWT

• GRB Streams

• (or L1b Streams)

Satellites: EWTSL1

• L0, L1b, SCMI, GGLM

• Instrument Calibration

Satellites: EWT

• GRB Uplink Streams

Satellites: EWTSL1

• L0 Packets, GRB Downlink

• TLM multicast streams

• Mission Data SFTP

• SWFO-L1 L0 Stream

Satellites: EWTSL1

• L0 Packets, GRB Downlink

• TLM Multicast Streams

• Mission Data SFTP

• SWFO-L1 L0 Stream

L1b Processing Service

• Security

• CM/Build

• L1 Processing

• L1 Observability

• L1 Product Performance

• Product Monitoring

• GRB, SCMI, GGLM

L2 Processing Service

• Security

• CM/Build

• L2+ Processing

• L2+ Observability

• L2+ Product Performance

GOES

West 137W

GOES

Storage 105W

GOES

Test 90W

GOES

East 75W

NOAA

• Security Services

• Infrastructure Services

Infrastructure Svcs Security Services

Enterprise Services

4 Workstation Sessions

Workstation Sessions

Files to eGRESc

Workstation Sessions

Workstation

Sessions

Files to eGRESc

Workstation Sessions

CBU

GRB Uplink

External to GEO Mission

GEO Miss ion On Prem

GEO Miss ion Cloud

Key E = GOES East Slot W = GOES West Slot T = GOES Test Slot S = GOES Storage Slot

L1 = SWFO-L1

Operational Data Flows R05.vsdx 07 October 2024

MLS

• L2 DO/EM MLS

• Security storage

MLS

• L1b DO/EM MLS

• Security storage

Mission Life Storage Service

• MM TLM Access

• MM/DO/EM MLS

• Security 3yr storage

MLS

• DO/EM MLS

• Security storage

MLS

• MM MLS

6 MLS

• MM TLM

• MM MLS6

Satellites: EWT

• L2

Satellites: EWT

• L1b, SCMI, GGLM

• Instrument Cal

• L1b, SCMI, GGLM

• Instrument Cal

Satellites: EWTS Mission Data SFTP

SWFO-L1

(at L1)

D R A F T

Ancillary Data

Enterprise Services

• New ground processing algorithms for the new instruments.

• Ground processing of Vis/IR Imager (GXI) data will include the rapid computation and uplink of an optimized scan pattern, based on cloud cover, to the GXS and OCX instruments.

• The received information data rate is ~3 times greater for GeoXO than GOES-R with a bandwidth 2-3 times greater for GeoXO than GOES-R.

• The product volume for the GeoXO instruments is projected as 3-4 times greater for GeoXO than for GOES-R.

• Other than the Data Collection System, supporting auxiliary comm systems are not in the scope of the GeoXO spacecraft and ground and are being supported via cloud and commercial comm service dissemination outside the scope of the GEO Ground System. DCS will be supported as currently supported on GOES-R.

• Additional antennas to support missions will be added as needed. Capabilities will either be incorporated as an Enterprise Service or via a future acquisition and do not need to be considered as part of this effort. Assume that antenna interface, including remote status and control will be described as part of an interface or service specification.

• The evolved GEO Ground System should support maintenance and updated deployments without impacting an entire on-premises site.

NESDIS enterprise ground services will be used as they become available. The evolved architecture should support integrating those services when they are provided while minimizing the perturbation to the remainder of the Ground System. A description of the updated requirements are covered in the attached GeoXO Mission System Requirements Review slides

(Attachments 6, GeoXO SRR GEO Overview Briefing and Attachment 7, GeoXO SRR GEO

Ground Requirements briefing) and Level II Mission Requirements Document (Attachment 8, MRD V2.1).

Preliminary System Characteristics Applicable To Future GEO Ground System

Some of the characteristics that GEO Ground System PMO is considering for the future GEO

Ground System include, but are not limited to: Operability, Maintainability, Sustainability, Agility/Scalability, Automatability, and Security. They are described in detail below.

Operability

• High level of O&M staffing efficiency.

• Enable new uses of automation.

• Reduced complexity and increased commonality where useful for cross-mission capabilities.

• The GEO Ground System needs to be backwards compatible to support the heritage GOES-R satellites, SWFO-L1 satellite as well as supporting GeoXO and other possible new missions.

• The future GEO Ground System Architecture should maximize segregation between data operations and mission operations.

• Antenna use and operations in the future GEO Ground System will not be constrained by the physical locations of the antennas.

• All components selected for inclusion in the future GEO Ground System must be at least

Technology Readiness Level six (TRL6), as defined by NASA 7123, at time of selection or a plan must be in place to achieve TRL6 before the decision is finalized. By the time of the first GeoXO launch (2032) all components utilized within the GEO Ground System must be at least TRL8.

• Cloud services in the future GEO Ground System must be compatible with Amazon Web

Services (AWS).

Maintainability

• Minimized year-over-year hands-on maintenance.

• Ability to perform maintenance without failing over full strings or sites.

• Automated alerting and diagnostics where possible.

• Minimize contractor lock in.

Sustainability

• Facilitates new technology insertion while minimizing system perturbations / redesign

(reduced complexity).

• Use of integration standards to enable replacement of component parts or software without redesign of system or interfaces.

• Move of data access for non-time-critical users to enterprise archive access.

• The future GEO Ground System should maximize the use of non-proprietary, standardized interfaces for integration.

Agility/Scalability

• Ability to incorporate changes at the necessary rate of change to meet emerging requirements and IT security threats.

• Services in the future GEO Ground System will be as modular and decoupled as possible.

Automatability

• Automated data flow between functional elements within the system as well as automation of those functional elements.

• Automated system status reporting and correction (automated failover where possible).

• Automated startup and shutdown of applications and processes.

• Tools and practices to automate testing and deployment of updates.

IT Security Posture

• Enable Rapid Patching cadence

• Response to emerging threats and technologies

• The future GEO Ground System will need to implement zero trust architecture.

• Cloud portion of future GEO Ground System will implement using commercial cloud services which are a minimum FedRAMP Moderate approved.

• The future GEO Ground System design should minimize the number of external access points into critical areas of the system.

GEO Ground System Organizational Considerations

Operations and Maintenance of the GEO Ground System are carried out by the NOAA Office of

Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO). Sustainment of the GEO Ground System is the responsibility of the GEO Ground Project and is supported by L3Harris under a five-year IDIQ contract called Geostationary Ground Sustainment Services (GGSS).

The applicable definitions of Operations, Maintenance, and Sustainment are:

• Operations: Operations activities and functions are performed to ensure the efficient and effective command and control of satellites and selected reference climate networks, data acquisition from a spectrum of observing and computational systems, product generation, archive, product distribution, and the execution of broadcast services. Operations are often supported on a 24 hour x 7 days x 365 days per year basis with defined remote backup and contingency capabilities that ensure the high availability and reliability of products and services.

• Maintenance: Maintenance activities are performed to ensure the continued operation of any system. Maintenance ensures that the overall system continues to meet scientific, technical, functional, and performance requirements in addition to availability and reliability requirements. Maintenance ensures the appropriate security posture for the system.

• Sustainment: Sustainment activities are pre-planned activities performed to develop, modernize or enhance components of the system, including addressing obsolescence.

Sustainment is conducted to extend the life of the GS and improve its capabilities, reliability and robustness, leverage technology advancements, or reduce life-cycle costs.

Table 3 Organizations and Stakeholders in the GEO Ground System lists key organizations and stakeholders in the GEO Ground System.

Organization Interest in GEO Ground System

GEO Ground Project (GP) Management

Office

Procure, develop, transition, and sustain ground system capability for GOES-R and GeoXO satellites as well as provide infrastructure, platform, and security services for SW missions. Procuring funding and managing budget to provide required capabilities.

Operational Data Users (e.g. National

Weather Service, Department of

Defense)

Require timely, reliable access to weather observation data and weather products (provided by PDA today but will be provided by NESDIS Common Cloud Framework (NCCF) in the GeoXO timeframe)

Retrospective Data Users (e.g.

universities, scientists, developers, etc.)

Require access to archived data (provided through OCS legacy and cloud capabilities)

Organization Interest in GEO Ground System

Auxiliary Comm Service Users – “Bent

Pipe” users – Data Collection System, (HRIT/EMWIN and SARSAT for

GOES-R but not GeoXO)

Transmission of OSPO-developed commands to DCS and reception of uplinked data. Low stakes in ground for other

Auxiliary Comm Users

Mission Operations Support Team

(MOST)

Operates GS to perform launch, orbit raising and post-launch testing and continued operations of satellites until handover to

Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO).

Product Readiness and Operations

(PRO) Team

Access to data, products, and platform for deploying, testing and operationalizing algorithms. Verifying that products meet quality, refresh and latency requirements.

Satellite Instrument Vendors Access to instrument initialization, calibration, and operational data through GEO Ground System.

Calibration/Validation Working Group Access to data and products for calibrating instrument and validating products generated.

Algorithm Working Group Access to data for algorithm development, test and validation.

Ground Readiness Team Access to system and tools for testing and verifying readiness of ground system to support command, control, data distribution and product generation

Office of Satellite and Product

Operations (OSPO)

Operate the GEO Ground System to perform Operations &

Maintenance of satellites, GEO Ground System, and product generation (after development and transition efforts)

Office of Common Services (OCS) Public-facing access to weather observation products through current legacy systems and Cloud presence (archive, distribution, and access)

GOES-R Series/ GeoXO Flight Projects GEO Ground System used to support pre-launch testing, launch and orbit raising and Command and Control (C2) of satellites and instruments

Space Weather Office (SWO) Use and planned use of GEO Ground System as infrastructure to host SWO mission command, control and data distribution.

Acquisition of funding and budget management for ground system elements supporting SWO missions.

NOAA/NESDIS Facilities Currently house GEO Ground System elements

Table 3 Organizations and Stakeholders in the GEO Ground System

ATTACHMENTS & REFERENCES

Attachment 1 – NOAA GEO Ground System Background Information (this file)

Attachment 2 – Wall Chart 7036394 Rev AH – this wall chart is referenced in Figure 3 and provides more details.

Attachment 3 – GEO Cloud Capabilities – this wall chart is comparable to Figure 6 and provides more details

Attachment 4 – Memo, Planned Updates to the GGSS F&PS

Attachment 5 – GEO Ground Sustainment Services (GGSS) Functional and Performance

Specifications (F&PS)

Attachment 6 – GeoXO System Requirements Review GEO Ground Overview

Attachment 7 – GeoXO System Requirements Review GEO Ground Requirements

Attachment 8 – GeoXO Mission Requirements Document (Level II requirements)

Attachment 9 – GOES-R Ground System Design Document, Rev P

References

Information about the NOAA, including the latest Strategic Plan, can be found on the noaa.gov website under https://www.noaa.gov/about-our-agency

Information about the NESDIS can be found under https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/

Information about the current GEO Mission can be found under https://www.goes-r.gov/

Information about the current GeoXO Mission can be found under https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/our-satellites/future-programs/geoxo/geoxo-spacecraft-instruments

Information about the Space Weather Follow-On Program can be found under https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/our-satellites/future-programs/space-weather-follow-program

Other Definitions

Definitions used on diagrams not otherwise defined in the text.

• GL0AS – GOES-R Level Zero Access Service

• eGRESc – Electronic GOES-R Export Service in the Cloud

• CLASS – Comprehensive Large Array Stewardship System

• NCEI-NC – National Centers for Environmental Information – North Carolina

• Pkt – Packet

• TLM – Telemetry

• CMD – Command

• DCS – Data Collection System

• SCMI – Sectorized Cloud and Moisture Imagery

• GGLM – Gridded Geostationary Lightning Mapper data

• SWPC / SWPC APS – Space Weather Processing Center

• SWPC APS – SWPC Alternate Processing System https://www.noaa.gov/about-our-agency https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/ https://www.goes-r.gov/ https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/our-satellites/future-programs/geoxo/geoxo-spacecraft-instruments https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/our-satellites/future-programs/space-weather-follow-program