Despite on-going malfunctions , NOAA ’s GOES-17weather satellite is already sending backstunningly high - definition imagesof Earth just 30 days after its launching .

Currently observing the planet from a fixed cranial orbit at 35,900 kilometers ( 22,300 naut mi ) above the equator , GOES-17 ’s charge is to continually monitor atmospherical , oceanic , and environmental phenomena come in the major planet ’s Western Hemisphere using its Advanced Baseline Imager ( ABI ) cat’s-paw , and to mensurate the Sun and blank environment with onboard ultraviolet and ecstasy - beam of light imagers ,   as well as atomic mote and magnetic line of business detectors .

The ABI functions by snap pictures with 16 separate striation of lighting : two seeable , four near - infrared , and 10 infrared . canvass reflect sparkle in each of these wavelengths provide important selective information about detritus , haze , sess , water evaporation , fog , idle words , and flora .

However , 13 of the ABI ’s channel are currently offline because the ABI ’s onboard cooling system failed to flex on in good order after the satellite settled into orbit . According to a May 23official media call , the tool ’s highly sensitive technology only works if it is kept at a icy -213 ° C ( -351 ° atomic number 9 ) .

As of now , the team is attempt to restore the cooling system by “ pursuing multiple courses of possible corrective activity ” . They note that the artificial satellite is still in its post - launch checkout and examination phase angle , which is expect to go forward into late 2018 .

But thankfully for all of us   who do n’t work in the field of monitoring weather condition and just require to face at pretty flick , the three working TV channel accumulate luminosity in the two visible ( blue and red ) band and one almost - infrared band that’sexcellent for studying flora .

The images released   yesterday were make by combining light data collected on May 20 from all three bands into one “ GeoColor ” vista . The result mimics the colors we would see with our naked eye yet provides a acuity far beyond the abilities of our cornea and retina .

Fusing many such range taken throughout the day allow the squad to create the short but spectacular sundown time - oversight video recording , which you’re able to see below .

The satellite might need to put to work out a few issues , but overall , not high-risk for its first month on the job .