Newton was able to express the gravitational force between a pair of objects in the form of a single equation:
F = G m₁ m₂ / r²
where the symbol represent:
F = gravitational force
m₁ = mass of the first object
m₂ = mass of the second object
r = distance between the centers of the objects
G = "universal constant of gravitation"

Using this equation and knowing the mass of the earth and the mass of GOES satellites, scientists launch GOES satellites to an elevation that locks them into a permanent orbit over the same location of the earth indefinitely.