Geostationary weather satellites

	Geostationary weather satellites

Below are checklists of Geostationary weather satellites, including launch dates and images of the satellites. If readers know of additional information or images, please contact the authors using the e-mail addresses at the bottom of this page.

Satellite series covered:

ATS
Chollian
COMS

Elektro
FY-2
FY-4

Geo-Kompsat
GMS

GOES
GOMS
Himawari

Insat [meteorological]
Kalpana

Meteosat
MetSat

MTSat
SMS

USA Applications Technology Satellite (ATS) series:

Satellite Launch Date Images
reference launch covers other postal items
ATS-1 (ATS-B) 1966-12-07 ATS-1 (sketch)
ATS-1 (sketch)
ATS-1/3 type
ATS-1/3 type
ATS-1/3 type ATS ATS
ATS-2 (ATS-A) 1967-04-06 ATS-2
ATS-2/4/5 type
ATS-2/4/5 type
ATS-2/4/5 type
ATS-3 (ATS-C) 1967-11-05 ATS-3
ATS-3
ATS-1/3 type
ATS-1/3 type
ATS-1/3 type
ATS-4 (ATS-D) [partial failure] 1968-08-10 ATS-2/4/5 type
ATS-2/4/5 type
ATS-2/4/5 type
ATS-4
ATS-4
ATS-4
ATS-4/5 type
ATS-5 (newspaper article)
ATS-5 (newspaper article)
ATS-5 (ATS-E) 1969-08-12
ATS-6 (ATS-F) 1974-05-30 ATS-6
ATS-6
ATS-6 (sketch)

Satellite	Launch Date	Images
reference	launch covers	other postal items
ATS-1 (ATS-B)	1966-12-07	ATS-1 (sketch) ATS-1 (sketch) ATS-1/3 type ATS-1/3 type ATS-1/3 type	ATS	ATS
ATS-2 (ATS-A)	1967-04-06	ATS-2 ATS-2/4/5 type ATS-2/4/5 type ATS-2/4/5 type
ATS-3 (ATS-C)	1967-11-05	ATS-3 ATS-3 ATS-1/3 type ATS-1/3 type ATS-1/3 type
ATS-4 (ATS-D) [partial failure]	1968-08-10	ATS-2/4/5 type ATS-2/4/5 type ATS-2/4/5 type ATS-4 ATS-4 ATS-4 ATS-4/5 type ATS-5 (newspaper article) ATS-5 (newspaper article)
ATS-5 (ATS-E)	1969-08-12
ATS-6 (ATS-F)	1974-05-30	ATS-6 ATS-6 ATS-6 (sketch)

USA Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS) series:

Satellite Launch Date Images
reference launch covers other postal items
SMS-1 (SMS-A) 1974-05-17 SMS-1
SMS/GOES-1/3 type
SMS/GOES-1/3 type
SMS/GOES-1/3 type SMS SMS and GOES
SMS-2 (SMS-B) 1975-02-06 SMS-2

Satellite	Launch Date	Images
reference	launch covers	other postal items
SMS-1 (SMS-A)	1974-05-17	SMS-1 SMS/GOES-1/3 type SMS/GOES-1/3 type SMS/GOES-1/3 type	SMS	SMS and GOES
SMS-2 (SMS-B)	1975-02-06	SMS-2

USA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series:

Satellite Launch Date Images
reference launch covers other postal items
GOES-1 (GOES-A / SMS-C) 1975-10-16 GOES-1 GOES SMS and GOES
GOES-2 (GOES-B) 1977-06-16
GOES-3 (GOES-C) 1978-06-16
GOES-4 (GOES-D) 1980-09-09 GOES-4/7 type
GOES-G
GOES-G
GOES-6
GOES-7
GOES-7
GOES-7
GOES-5 (GOES-E) 1981-05-22
GOES-6 (GOES-F) 1983-04-28
GOES-G [failed] 1986-05-03
GOES-7 (GOES-H) / GEOSAR 1987-02-26
GOES-8 (GOES-I) / GEOSAR 1994-04-13 GOES-8
GOES-8
GOES-8/12 type
GOES-8/12 type
GOES-8/12 type
GOES-8/12 type
GOES-I/M type (patch)
GOES-I/M type (patch, back)
GOES-L+M type (patch)
GOES-L+M type (patch, back)
GOES-L+M type (patch)
GOES-L+M type (patch, back)
GOES-9 (GOES-J) / GEOSAR 1995-05-23
GOES-10 (GOES-K) / GEOSAR 1997-04-25
GOES-11 (GOES-L) / GEOSAR 2000-05-03
GOES-12 (GOES-M) / GEOSAR 2001-07-23
GOES-13 (GOES-N) / GEOSAR / now EWS-G1 2006-05-24 GOES-13
GOES-13
GOES-N series (patch)
GOES-N series (patch)
GOES-N series (patch, back)
GOES-N/Q type (patch)
GOES-N/Q type (patch, back)
GOES-14 (GOES-O) / GEOSAR 2009-06-27 GOES-O (patch)
GOES-O (patch)
GOES-O (patch, back)
GOES-15 (GOES-P) / GEOSAR / now EWS-G2 2010-03-04 GOES-P (patch)
GOES-P (patch, back)
GOES-Q Canceled (never built)
GOES-16 (GOES-R) 2016-11-20 GOES-R
GOES-R
GOES-R (patch)
GOES-R (patch)
GOES-R (patch)
GOES/ABI (patch)
GOES-17 (GOES-S) 2018-03-01 GOES-S (patch)
GOES-18 (GOES-T) 2022-03-01 GOES-T (patch)
GOES-T (patch)
GOES-T (passport stamp)
GOES-19 (GOES-U) 2024-06-25 GOES-U (patch)

Satellite	Launch Date	Images
reference	launch covers	other postal items
GOES-1 (GOES-A / SMS-C)	1975-10-16	GOES-1	GOES	SMS and GOES
GOES-2 (GOES-B)	1977-06-16
GOES-3 (GOES-C)	1978-06-16
GOES-4 (GOES-D)	1980-09-09	GOES-4/7 type GOES-G GOES-G GOES-6 GOES-7 GOES-7 GOES-7
GOES-5 (GOES-E)	1981-05-22
GOES-6 (GOES-F)	1983-04-28
GOES-G [failed]	1986-05-03
GOES-7 (GOES-H) / GEOSAR	1987-02-26
GOES-8 (GOES-I) / GEOSAR	1994-04-13	GOES-8 GOES-8 GOES-8/12 type GOES-8/12 type GOES-8/12 type GOES-8/12 type GOES-I/M type (patch) GOES-I/M type (patch, back) GOES-L+M type (patch) GOES-L+M type (patch, back) GOES-L+M type (patch) GOES-L+M type (patch, back)
GOES-9 (GOES-J) / GEOSAR	1995-05-23
GOES-10 (GOES-K) / GEOSAR	1997-04-25
GOES-11 (GOES-L) / GEOSAR	2000-05-03
GOES-12 (GOES-M) / GEOSAR	2001-07-23
GOES-13 (GOES-N) / GEOSAR / now EWS-G1	2006-05-24	GOES-13 GOES-13 GOES-N series (patch) GOES-N series (patch) GOES-N series (patch, back) GOES-N/Q type (patch) GOES-N/Q type (patch, back)
GOES-14 (GOES-O) / GEOSAR	2009-06-27	GOES-O (patch) GOES-O (patch) GOES-O (patch, back)
GOES-15 (GOES-P) / GEOSAR / now EWS-G2	2010-03-04	GOES-P (patch) GOES-P (patch, back)
GOES-Q	Canceled (never built)
GOES-16 (GOES-R)	2016-11-20	GOES-R GOES-R GOES-R (patch) GOES-R (patch) GOES-R (patch) GOES/ABI (patch)
GOES-17 (GOES-S)	2018-03-01	GOES-S (patch)
GOES-18 (GOES-T)	2022-03-01	GOES-T (patch) GOES-T (patch) GOES-T (passport stamp)
GOES-19 (GOES-U)	2024-06-25	GOES-U (patch)

European (Eumetsat) METEOrological SATellite (Meteosat) series:

Satellite Launch Date Images
reference launch covers other postal items
Meteosat-1 (Meteosat-A) 1977-11-22 Meteosat
Meteosat
Meteosat
Meteosat (not "MSG")
Meteosat-1 (newspaper article) Meteosat Meteosat
Meteosat-2 (Meteosat-B) 1981-06-19
Meteosat-3 (Meteosat-P2) 1988-06-15 Meteosat-3
Meteosat-4 (MOP-1) 1989-03-06 Meteosat-4
Meteosat-4
Meteosat-5 (MOP-2) 1991-03-02 Meteosat-5
Meteosat-6 (MOP-3) 1993-11-20
Meteosat-7 (MTP) 1997-09-02 Meteosat-7
Meteosat-7

Satellite	Launch Date	Images
reference	launch covers	other postal items
Meteosat-1 (Meteosat-A)	1977-11-22	Meteosat Meteosat Meteosat Meteosat (not "MSG") Meteosat-1 (newspaper article)	Meteosat	Meteosat
Meteosat-2 (Meteosat-B)	1981-06-19
Meteosat-3 (Meteosat-P2)	1988-06-15	Meteosat-3
Meteosat-4 (MOP-1)	1989-03-06	Meteosat-4 Meteosat-4
Meteosat-5 (MOP-2)	1991-03-02	Meteosat-5
Meteosat-6 (MOP-3)	1993-11-20
Meteosat-7 (MTP)	1997-09-02	Meteosat-7 Meteosat-7

European (Eumetsat) Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) series:

Satellite Launch Date Images
reference launch covers other postal items
MSG-1 / Meteosat-8 / GEOSAR 2002-08-28 MSG
MSG (patch) MSG MSG
MSG-2 / Meteosat-9 / GEOSAR 2005-12-21
MSG-3 / Meteosat-10 / GEOSAR 2012-05-07
MSG-4 / Meteosat-11 / GEOSAR 2015-07-15

Satellite	Launch Date	Images
reference	launch covers	other postal items
MSG-1 / Meteosat-8 / GEOSAR	2002-08-28	MSG MSG (patch)	MSG	MSG
MSG-2 / Meteosat-9 / GEOSAR	2005-12-21
MSG-3 / Meteosat-10 / GEOSAR	2012-05-07
MSG-4 / Meteosat-11 / GEOSAR	2015-07-15

European (Eumetsat) Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) series:

Satellite Launch Date Images
reference launch covers other postal items
MTG-I1 / Meteosat-12 2022-12-13 MTG-I
MTG-I MTG MTG
MTG-I2 / Meteosat-14 2026-?
MTG-I2 / Meteosat-15 2033-?
MTG-I2 / Meteosat-17 2036-?
MTG-S1 / Meteosat-13 (with Sentinel-4A payload) 2025-07-01 MTG-S
MTG-S
MTG-S2 / Meteosat-16 (with Sentinel-4B payload) 2035-?

Satellite	Launch Date	Images
reference	launch covers	other postal items
MTG-I1 / Meteosat-12	2022-12-13	MTG-I MTG-I	MTG	MTG
MTG-I2 / Meteosat-14	2026-?
MTG-I2 / Meteosat-15	2033-?
MTG-I2 / Meteosat-17	2036-?
MTG-S1 / Meteosat-13 (with Sentinel-4A payload)	2025-07-01	MTG-S MTG-S
MTG-S2 / Meteosat-16 (with Sentinel-4B payload)	2035-?

Japanese Geostationary Meteorological Satellite (GMS) / Himawari series:

Satellite Launch Date Images
reference launch covers other postal items
GMS-1 / Himawari-1 1977-07-14 GMS
GMS
GMS
GMS
GMS-1
GMS-1 GMS / Himawari GMS / Himawari
GMS-2 / Himawari-2 1981-08-10 GMS-2
GMS-3 / Himawari-3 1984-08-03
GMS-4 / Himawari-4 1989-09-06
GMS-5 / Himawari-5 1995-03-18 GMS-5

Satellite	Launch Date	Images
reference	launch covers	other postal items
GMS-1 / Himawari-1	1977-07-14	GMS GMS GMS GMS GMS-1 GMS-1	GMS / Himawari	GMS / Himawari
GMS-2 / Himawari-2	1981-08-10	GMS-2
GMS-3 / Himawari-3	1984-08-03
GMS-4 / Himawari-4	1989-09-06
GMS-5 / Himawari-5	1995-03-18	GMS-5

Japanese Multi-functional Transport Satellite (MTSat) / Himawari (continued) series:

Satellite Launch Date Images
reference launch covers other postal items
MTSat-1 [failed] 1999-11-15 MTSat
MTSat-1 MTSat / Himawari MTSat / Himawari
MTSat-1R / Himawari-6 2005-02-26
MTSat-2 / Himawari-7 2006-02-18 MTSat-2

Satellite	Launch Date	Images
reference	launch covers	other postal items
MTSat-1 [failed]	1999-11-15	MTSat MTSat-1	MTSat / Himawari	MTSat / Himawari
MTSat-1R / Himawari-6	2005-02-26
MTSat-2 / Himawari-7	2006-02-18	MTSat-2

Japanese Himawari (continued, non-GMS and non-MTSat) series:

Satellite Launch Date Images
reference launch covers other postal items
Himawari-8 (3rd generation) 2014-10-07 Himawari-8
Himawari-8/9 type Himawari Himawari
Himawari-9 (3rd generation) 2016-11-02
Himawari-10 (4th generation) 2028-?

Satellite	Launch Date	Images
reference	launch covers	other postal items
Himawari-8 (3rd generation)	2014-10-07	Himawari-8 Himawari-8/9 type	Himawari	Himawari
Himawari-9 (3rd generation)	2016-11-02
Himawari-10 (4th generation)	2028-?

Indian (ISRO) National SATellite (Insat) series [with meteorological instrumentation]:

In addition to their communications function, a subset of the Insat series carried remote-sensing equipment that allowed them to act as weather satellites. (The [complete] Insat series is found in the communications satellites page.)

Satellite Launch Date Images
reference launch covers other postal items
Insat-1A 1982-04-10 Insat
Insat-1
Insat-1A Insat [with meteorological instrumentation] Insat [with meteorological instrumentation]
Insat-1B [STS-8/Challenger-deployed] 1983-08-30
Insat-1C 1988-07-21
Insat-1D 1990-06-12 Insat-1D (newspaper article)
Insat-2A / SARSAT 1992-07-09 Insat-2
Insat-2
Insat-2A
Insat-2B / SARSAT 1993-07-22
Insat-2E / Intelsat-APR-2 1999-04-03 Insat-2E
Insat-3A / SARSAT 2003-04-09 Insat-3A
Insat-3C 2002-01-23 Insat-3C
Insat-3D [meteorological only] / SARSAT 2013-07-25 Insat-3D
Insat-3DR [meteorological only] 2016-09-08 Insat-3DR
Insat-3DS [meteorological only] 2024-02-17

Satellite	Launch Date	Images
reference	launch covers	other postal items
Insat-1A	1982-04-10	Insat Insat-1 Insat-1A	Insat [with meteorological instrumentation]	Insat [with meteorological instrumentation]
Insat-1B [STS-8/Challenger-deployed]	1983-08-30
Insat-1C	1988-07-21
Insat-1D	1990-06-12	Insat-1D (newspaper article)
Insat-2A / SARSAT	1992-07-09	Insat-2 Insat-2 Insat-2A
Insat-2B / SARSAT	1993-07-22
Insat-2E / Intelsat-APR-2	1999-04-03	Insat-2E
Insat-3A / SARSAT	2003-04-09	Insat-3A
Insat-3C	2002-01-23	Insat-3C
Insat-3D [meteorological only] / SARSAT	2013-07-25	Insat-3D
Insat-3DR [meteorological only]	2016-09-08	Insat-3DR
Insat-3DS [meteorological only]	2024-02-17

Indian (ISRO) METeorological SATellite (MetSat) / Kalpana:

Satellite Launch Date Images
reference launch covers other postal items
MetSat-1 / Kalpana-1 2002-09-12 MetSat-1 MetSat MetSat

Satellite	Launch Date	Images
reference	launch covers	other postal items
MetSat-1 / Kalpana-1	2002-09-12	MetSat-1	MetSat	MetSat

Russian Geostationary Operational Meteorological Satellite (GOMS) / Elektro series:

Satellite Launch Date Images
reference launch covers other postal items
GOMS-1 / Elektro-1 / GEOSAR 1994-10-31 Elektro-1
Elektro
GOMS
GOMS GOMS / Elektro GOMS / Elektro
Elektro-L1 / GEOSAR 2011-01-20 Elektro-L
Elektro-L2 2015-12-11 Elektro-L2
Elektro-L3 2019-12-24
Elektro-L4 2023-02-05
Elektro-L5 2026-02-12

Satellite	Launch Date	Images
reference	launch covers	other postal items
GOMS-1 / Elektro-1 / GEOSAR	1994-10-31	Elektro-1 Elektro GOMS GOMS	GOMS / Elektro	GOMS / Elektro
Elektro-L1 / GEOSAR	2011-01-20	Elektro-L
Elektro-L2	2015-12-11	Elektro-L2
Elektro-L3	2019-12-24
Elektro-L4	2023-02-05
Elektro-L5	2026-02-12

China/PRC Feng Yun (FY-2 and FY-4) geostationary satellites:

Satellite Launch Date Images
reference launch covers other postal items
first FY-2A [accident/explosion] 1994-04-02 FY-2 FY-2 FY-2
FY-2A 1997-06-10 FY-2A (+ FY-1)
FY-2B 2000-06-25 FY-2B
FY-2C 2004-10-19
FY-2D 2006-12-08
FY-2E 2008-12-23
FY-2F 2012-01-13
FY-2G 2014-12-31
FY-2H 2018-06-05
FY-4A 2016-12-10 FY-4
FY-4
FY-4A FY-4 FY-4
FY-4B 2021-06-02
FY-4C 2025-12-26

Satellite	Launch Date	Images
reference	launch covers	other postal items
first FY-2A [accident/explosion]	1994-04-02	FY-2	FY-2	FY-2
FY-2A	1997-06-10	FY-2A (+ FY-1)
FY-2B	2000-06-25	FY-2B
FY-2C	2004-10-19
FY-2D	2006-12-08
FY-2E	2008-12-23
FY-2F	2012-01-13
FY-2G	2014-12-31
FY-2H	2018-06-05
FY-4A	2016-12-10	FY-4 FY-4 FY-4A	FY-4	FY-4
FY-4B	2021-06-02
FY-4C	2025-12-26

GEOstationary KOrea Multi-Purpose SATellite (Geo-Kompsat / GK) series:

Satellite Launch Date Images
reference launch covers other postal items
COMS / Geo-Kompsat-1 / Chollian-1 2010-06-26 COMS Geo-Kompsat / Chollian Geo-Kompsat / Chollian
Geo-Kompsat-2A (GK-2A) / Chollian-2A 2018-12-04 Geo-Kompsat-2A
Geo-Kompsat-2A
Geo-Kompsat-2B (GK-2B) / Chollian-2B 2020-02-18 Geo-Kompsat-2B
Geo-Kompsat-3 (GK-3) / Chollian-3 2027-?

Satellite	Launch Date	Images
reference	launch covers	other postal items
COMS / Geo-Kompsat-1 / Chollian-1	2010-06-26	COMS	Geo-Kompsat / Chollian	Geo-Kompsat / Chollian
Geo-Kompsat-2A (GK-2A) / Chollian-2A	2018-12-04	Geo-Kompsat-2A Geo-Kompsat-2A
Geo-Kompsat-2B (GK-2B) / Chollian-2B	2020-02-18	Geo-Kompsat-2B
Geo-Kompsat-3 (GK-3) / Chollian-3	2027-?

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Geostationaryweather satellites