NOAA’s Future Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) Mission
Changes from February 4, 2025 to July 24, 2026
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February 4, 2025
NOAA’s NOAA's Future Geostationary Extended Observations ( (GeoXO) Mission
GeoXO) Mission
Source: CRS using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), "GeoXO Spacecraft & Instruments," May 29, 2024 (archived); April 6, 2026 (archived); and July 15, 2026. Notes: Color dots reflect the instruments' anticipated climate, weather, coasts, and ocean applications as identified by NOAA. GeoXO Imager (GXI) and GeoXO Sounder (GXS) are planned to be new, improved GeoXO instruments under the Biden and Trump Administrations. Atmospheric Composition (ACX), Lightning Mapper (LMX), and Ocean Color (OCX) were planned to be new, advanced GeoXO instruments under the Biden Administration. In 2025, the Trump Administration modified the GeoXO program to include Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) and Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) (current GOES-R Series instruments) on the first satellite launch for the GEO-West position. The next satellite launch for the GEO-West position would carry GXI and, if within the modified GeoXO program cost guidelines, LMX, according to NOAA. In 2026, the Trump Administration revised the GeoXO program to include ABI on the first satellite launch for the GEO-West position, with subsequent satellite launches including GXI. No satellites under this plan would carry either GLM or LMX. Both the Biden and Trump Administrations' plans for the GeoXO mission have included two instruments: GeoXO Imager (GXI) and GeoXO Sounder (GXS). NOAA plans for GXI to collect real-time, high-resolution imagery. GXI is planned to be an improved version of the GOES-R Series' Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), producing higher-resolution data compared with ABI. GXI would help NOAA meet its mission needs for "[s]hort-range weather forecasting, severe weather watches and warnings, and monitoring hazardous environmental conditions," including fires and flooding. NOAA plans for the GXS to provide real-time moisture, winds, and temperature data in the troposphere (the atmospheric level where weather occurs). GXS would be a new instrument; the GOES-R Series does not include a sounder. Data collected by the sounder are expected to improve NOAA's numerical weather prediction and nowcasting (i.e., current conditions to conditions expected up to six hours into the future). NOAA had planned for ACX to measure ultraviolet to visible light. ACX would have been a new instrument for NOAA's observational fleet and an operational follow-on to a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) instrument. The instrument was to provide hourly observations of air pollutants to better understand the link between air quality and weather and climate events, among other objectives. NOAA had planned for LMX to detect, locate, and measure lightning characteristics, such as its intensity, duration, and extent. LMX would have been an improved version of the GOES-R Series' Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM). LMX would have helped NOAA meet its mission needs for storm warning and nowcasting, including over U.S. coastal and ocean waters where data are limited. For example, increased lightning data over the ocean may inform how rapidly hurricanes intensify before making landfall. NOAA had planned for OCX to provide ocean color data every two hours during the daytime over U.S. ocean waters. OCX would have been a new instrument and would have "solve[d]" some problems faced by existing U.S. satellites that collect ocean color data, according to NASA. OCX would have helped NOAA monitor "dynamic coast/ocean features, ecosystem change, water quality, and hazards." Between 2023 and 2024, NASA, on behalf of NOAA, had contracted several companies to develop the GeoXO instruments and satellites. As of July 24, 2026, NOAA has "discontinued" the contracts for ACX, LMX, and OCX. As of the date of publication, the awarded GeoXO contracts, including those discontinued, appear as "in progress" on USAspending.gov. At least one discontinued contract had already outlaid nearly $50 million to the contractors. Some Members of Congress have raised concerns about the cancellation of these GeoXO contracts, noting the lack of notification to congressional authorizing committees and questioning whether the contractors would sue the federal government for termination costs. Congress may weigh the potential consequences associated with modifying the GeoXO program against the benefits of reducing the program's total cost. Outstanding questions Congress may consider include the following: For discussion of the GeoXO program and issues for Congress, see CRS Report R49026, NOAA's Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) Satellite Program and Issues for Congress.new generation of geostationary satellites. NOAA depends on continuous geostationary observational coverage over the United States to inform its weather forecasts. Given the high cost and long timeframe to develop a major satellite program (as defined in 33 U.S.C. §878a), Congress may be interested in tracking NOAA's progress on its next generation geostationary satellite mission, including any modifications, delays, and cost overruns.
GeoXO Overview
NOAA's current operational two-satellite. In 2019, NOAA began defining requirements for its next mission, Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO). Through workshops with expected future users, including government researchers, industry, and academia, NOAA identified that users are seeking data to better understand fires, weather, agriculture and land use, human health, and oceans. GeoXO would be a constellation of three operational satellites expected to continuously collect environmental data from the Western Hemisphere through 2055. NOAA anticipates that deployment of GeoXO satellites will begin in 2032, around the time NOAA’s current geostationary mission, the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites R Series (GOES-R Series), is expected to near the end of its operational lifetime in the early 2030s. In 2019, NOAA began defining requirements for its next mission, Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO). NOAA plans for GeoXO to continue and improve on the GOES-R Series' continuous observations over the Western Hemisphere through 2055, with the first GeoXO satellite launch date planned for 2032.
As conceived under the Biden Administration, GeoXO was set to be NOAA's largest procurement ever at $19.6 billion, covering GeoXO development, operations, and support from 2020 to 2055. Under the Biden Administration, GeoXO had planned for three operational satellites—GEO-West, GEO-Central, and GEO-East—with five total instruments that had been identified for climate, weather, coastal, and ocean applications (Figure 1). The mission would have had six total satellites (i.e., a backup for each operational satellite). The Department of Commerce (DOC) approved the Biden Administration's plans for GeoXO in December 2022.
In 2025, the Trump Administration determined that the GeoXO program had unsustainable costs and restructured its mission to focus solely on weather. The Administration reduced the number of operational satellites to two—GEO-West and GEO-East—and eliminated two instruments while assessing options for including versus omitting a third instrument (Figure 1). The mission plans for four total satellites (i.e., two backups). In January 2026, Congress addressed some of the proposed and implemented changes to GeoXO in the explanatory statement accompanying the FY2026 appropriations law (P.L. 119-74). Specifically, Congress stated that "the revised [GeoXO] mission architecture must include imaging and sounding ... instruments for all satellites with data quality standards that meet or exceed GOES–R requirements and to consider additional instruments if they can be accommodated." In April 2026, DOC approved a new plan for the GeoXO program that aligns with FY2026 congressional direction (Figure 1). NOAA estimates a total cost of $11.9 billion for the revised GeoXO program.
GeoXO Instruments and Contracts
Questions Congress May Consider
For Further Reading
to near the end of its operational lifetime. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the final GOES-R Series satellite on June 25, 2024. NOAA plans for GeoXO to continue and improve on the GOES-R Series observations.
Congress has shown support for NOAA’s GeoXO mission. In FY2024, Congress appropriated $285.0 million for NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) Geostationary Earth Orbit program, which includes GeoXO. In FY2025, NOAA requested $798.4 million to continue developing the GeoXO program. Given the high cost, in addition to the long time frame, to develop a major satellite program (as defined in 33 U.S.C. §878a), congressional oversight may include tracking GeoXO’s progress, including any program delays and cost overruns. This CRS In Focus provides a descriptive overview of GeoXO.
GeoXO Instruments
The GeoXO constellation is to comprise three satellites: GEO-West, GEO-Central, and GEO-East. All three would be positioned over the Western Hemisphere. The GeoXO constellation would host five instruments to provide continuous imagery and data of Earth’s atmosphere, land, and ocean (Figure 1):
1. GeoXO Lightning Mapper (LMX) would be
a single-channel, near-infrared optical detector used to detect, locate, and measure lightning characteristics, such as its intensity, duration, and extent.
2. GeoXO Sounder (GXS) would be a camera-
like device whose detector is sensitive to fine- scale ranges of infrared wavelengths used to collect real-time data of the troposphere
(where weather occurs). The device is to measure the vertical distribution of atmospheric moisture, winds, and temperature.
3. GeoXO Imager (GXI) would include 18
channels for viewing visible and infrared wavelengths used to collect real-time, high- resolution imagery.
4. GeoXO Atmospheric Composition (ACX)
would be a hyperspectral spectrometer that measures ultraviolet to visible light. The instrument is to provide hourly observations of air pollutants, including ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide formaldehyde, glyoxal, and sulfur dioxide.
5. GeoXO Ocean Color (OCX) would be a
hyperspectral, ultraviolet through near- infrared passive imaging radiometer used to provide ocean color observations every two hours over the U.S. ocean waters.
Figure 1. Planned GeoXO Constellation and Instruments for Climate, Weather, Coasts, and Ocean Observations
Source: CRS, using information from NASA, “GeoXO.”
GXS, ACX, and OCX would be new instruments to support air quality, ocean, coasts, climate, and weather prediction capabilities. LMX and GXI would be improved versions of GOES-R Series’ instruments for weather applications.
NASA plans to build and launch the satellites, and NOAA plans to operate and manage GeoXO’s mission. NASA, on
NOAA’s Future Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) Mission
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behalf of NOAA, has contracted several companies to develop GeoXO instruments and spacecraft (Table 1). The mission plans for six total spacecraft, with a maximum of three operating simultaneously (i.e., a replacement for each to maintain data collection, if needed).
Table 1. Awarded Contracts for GeoXO Instruments and Spacecraft
Instrument
Cost Plus Award
Fee
(in millions)
Company
(City, State)
LMX $297.1 Lockheed Martin (Littleton, CO)
GXS $486.9 Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation (Boulder, CO)
GXI $765.5 L3Harris (Fort Wayne, IN)
ACX $365.0 BAE Systems (Boulder, CO)
OXO $450.0 BAE Systems (Boulder, CO)
Spacecraft $2,270.0 Lockheed Martin (Littleton, CO)
Sources: NOAA, “NASA Selects L3Harris to Develop NOAA GeoXO Imager,” March 13, 2023; NOAA, “NASA Selects Ball Aerospace to Develop NOAA’s GeoXO Sounder Instrument,” September 11, 2023; NOAA, “NASA Selects BAE Systems to Develop Air Quality Instrument for NOAA,” May 1, 2024; NOAA, “NASA Selects BAE Systems to Develop Ocean Color Instrument for NOAA,” May 20, 2024; NOAA, “NASA Selects Lockheed Martin to Build NOAA’s Next-Gen Spacecraft,” June 18, 2024; and NOAA, “NASA Selects Lockheed Martin to Develop Lightning Mapper for NOAA,” September 17, 2024. Notes: The work for the spacecraft is to take place at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Colorado and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. BAE Systems was formerly known as Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation.
GeoXO Applications
NOAA plans to use the GeoXO satellite constellation to support its strategic objectives in terrestrial weather prediction and warning; climate adaptation and mitigation; healthy oceans; and resilient coastal communities and economies. GeoXO data would be made accessible to research communities through the NESDIS Common Cloud Framework (NCCF). NOAA plans to send GeoXO data “directly from the NCCF to the weather and forecasting community.” Experts expect the data obtained from GeoXO will contribute to numerical weather prediction (NWP), hurricane monitoring, wildfire and smoke detection, air quality monitoring, ocean applications (e.g., oil spills, harmful algal blooms), and climate records.
Numerical Weather Prediction. Federal experts anticipate GXS instruments will improve weather forecasts up to three to five days in advance. NOAA expects GXS data to be assimilated into regional and global NWP models to
improve severe storm and wind forecasts. GXS, LMX, and GXI data are expected to improve severe storm warnings.
Hurricane Monitoring. Forecasters rely on geostationary satellites to provide information for storm monitoring over the open ocean, where ground-based radar is absent. NOAA expects GXI imagery and GXS data to improve the detection of hurricane formation and estimates about certain storm characteristics, such as intensity and the location and trajectory of a storm’s center. In addition, researchers have identified a relationship between increased lightning activity and a change in hurricane intensity. NOAA expects LMX observations to improve forecasts for rapid intensification of hurricanes, especially over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, where lightning observations are limited.
Fires and Smoke Detection. Early detection of a wildfire increases the likelihood of containment and suppression as well as the issuance of timely public alerts. GXI is anticipated to improve spatial resolution (by a factor-of- four improvement in pixel size) compared with the GOES- R Series imager. Improved resolution allows for smaller fires or fires burning at a lower temperature (compared with background levels) to be detected earlier. In addition, GXI is intended to detect and track wildfire smoke in real time, allowing for timely air quality alerts.
Air Quality Monitoring. Poor air quality contributes to about 100,000 premature deaths annually in the United States, according to NOAA. Decisionmakers use air quality monitoring and forecasts to mitigate health impacts from air pollution and smoke events and to mitigate aviation hazards. The GeoXO mission plans to use ACX, GXI, and GXS as part of a multi-instrument strategy to improve air quality monitoring and forecasting by providing hourly observations of air pollutants emitted by specific sources, such as traffic, power plants, volcanoes, and wildfires.
Ocean Applications. Researchers plan to use OCX data to monitor dynamic biological, chemical, and ecological features of the ocean. Data also could help monitor oil spills, nuisance species such as sargassum, and water quality. In addition, ocean color imagery could be used to identify algal species and primary productivity levels (the base of the marine food web). Data may be used to inform fishing activities, predict disruptions to the marine food web, and improve forecasts of harmful algal blooms.
Climate Records. NOAA anticipates many measurements and information obtained from GeoXO will contribute to climate monitoring efforts. Climate scientists plan to use GeoXO data to extend records of clouds, surface temperature and radiative fluxes, precipitation, fire, aerosol size, and vegetation indexes. These records may help spatially and temporally resolve cloud and moisture properties, which may improve the accuracy of climate model projections.
Caitlin Keating-Bitonti, Specialist Natural Resources Policy
IF12898
NOAA’s Future Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) Mission
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12898 · VERSION 1 · NEW
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