{"id":60173,"date":"2024-07-03T19:18:28","date_gmt":"2024-07-03T19:18:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/?p=60173"},"modified":"2024-07-03T19:21:13","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T19:21:13","slug":"most-subtle-rocket-booster-re-entry-signal-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/archives\/60173","title":{"rendered":"Most Subtle Rocket Booster Re-Entry Signal Ever?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The GOES-U<\/a> rocket launch on SpaceX Falcon Heavy<\/a> provided an opportunity for GOES-East<\/a> (16) and -West<\/a> (18) to monitor the launch and booster re-entries. Both the operational GOES were taking special (research) ABI meso-scale sectors of the launch, with GOES-16 providing 1-min imagery<\/a> and GOES-18 30-sec<\/a> (both sectors). (More on how to submit an ABI meso research request.<\/a>) The launch itself has a much stronger and longer signal in ABI imagery than the smaller boosters making re-entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A previous CIMSS Satellite Blog<\/a> shows the GOES satellite signatures of the GOES-U launch, from both GOES-16 and GOES-18<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GOES-East<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Stepped sequence of 1-minute GOES-16 images from all 16 ABI spectral bands, plus a Rocket Plume RGB from a UW\/CIMSS Satellite Blog. Click to Play.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The meso-scale sector from GOES-16 offered images every minute over Florida. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

GOES-16 ABI Band 8 (6.2 um) “water vapor” band showing the warming possibly associated with the rocket re-entry burns. The white circle has been added. Click to Play.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Above is a short loop of the upper-level “water vapor” band on the ABI. Note the warming at approximately 21:33 UTC<\/a>. The white pixels to the southwest of the circle is a cloud associated with the GOES-R rocket launch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another option to combine three of the ABI spectral bands is via the “rocket plume” RGB<\/a> that during the day uses the 3.9 um “fire” band, the 6.2 um water vapor band and “red” visible band. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Still image of the “rocket plume” RGB at approximately 21:33 UTC. The black circle has been added to show the subtle signal of the re-entry of the boosters.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
GOES-16 ABI “rocket plume” RGB animation on June 25, 2024. Click to Play<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

GOES-West<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The meso-scale sector from GOES-18 offered images every 30 seconds over Florida, albeit at a relatively large view angle. This parallax<\/a> isn’t an error, just a difference in viewing. This is why the rocket appears farther east when viewed from GOES-West. More on parallax<\/a> using a webapp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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GOES-18 ABI Band 8 (6.2 um) image showing the warming possibly associated with the GOES-U rocket re-entry burns. The black circle has been added. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
GOES-18 ABI Band 8 (6.2 um) animation on June 25, 2024. Click to play.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

All 16 bands<\/a> from GOES-18 ABI. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Landing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Falcon Heavy\u2019s side boosters land on Landing Zones 1 and 2 pic.twitter.com\/5RDbTGNnSq<\/a><\/p>— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 25, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>