EWS-G2 (GOES 15)

WeatherMilitary*GEOEquatorialUnited States

EWS-G2 (GOES 15) is a weather satellite, with ownership listed as United States in CelesTrak's catalogue, currently in a geostationary orbit about 35,774 km above the equator. It completes one orbit of Earth roughly every 1436 minutes at an inclination of 1.6°. It was launched in 2010. Track its live position and see when it passes over your location on azmth.

Orbital data

NORAD ID: 36411
COSPAR ID: 2010-008A
Type: Weather
Orbit: GEO
Perigee (lowest): 35,774 km
Apogee (highest): 35,812 km
Inclination: 1.61°
Orbital period: 1436 min
Launch year: 2010
Owner (CelesTrak): United States

Orbital data updated: 2026-10-19 · from CelesTrak, refreshed every 2 hours.

Who operates it

United StatesLIVEActive

Weather

GCAT lists it as GOES 15.

Official description

The US Space Force says it accepted GOES-15 and renamed it EWS-G2, and that NOAA operates it on the Space Force's behalf (22 Sep 2023).

US Space Force, 22 Sep 2023

Show original

“the Space Force accepted GOES-15 and the satellite was re-designated EWS-G2 ... NOAA will operate EWS-G2 on behalf of the Space Force”

Independent assessment

GCAT classes it as a civil government satellite for weather, lists its owner as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and records it as active (17 Oct 2026).

Data: GCAT · CC BY 4.0 Class, mission and status adapted from GCAT by Jonathan McDowell, CC BY 4.0, data update 17 Oct 2026.

Military satellites, counted and explained →

About GEO orbit

Geostationary Orbit. Exactly 35,786 km above the equator. Satellites here orbit at the same rate Earth rotates, so they appear stationary in the sky. Used for TV, weather, and communications.