--- title: Is your meteorologist a robot? Technology behind your weather forecast description: Our weather footprint allows meteorologists to gather amazing data. GOES-R technology is used every day to create accurate weather forecasts around the world, Lockheed Martin’s weather story doesn’t start there. Our satellites and systems have been working to save lives and property for over 70 years. image: https://contact.lockheedmartin.com/hubfs/Lisa%20Callahan%20Portraits-008-1.jpg --- [![LM-logo-Blue-1](https://contact.lockheedmartin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LM-logo-Blue-1.png?width=1924&height=343&name=LM-logo-Blue-1.png)](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/careers/index.html) - Who We Are - - [Featured](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products.html#) - [2018 Lockheed Martin Fact Sheet](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed-martin/eo/documents/2018-lockheed-martin-fact-sheet.pdf) - - [About Us](http://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are.html) - [Leadership & Governance](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/leadership-governance.html) - [Business Areas](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/business-areas.html) - [Global Activities](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/international.html) - [Lockheed Martin Ventures](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/lockheed-martin-ventures.html) - [History](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/history.html) - [In the Community](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/communities.html) - [Military and Veteran Support](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/communities/military-veteran-support.html) - [STEM Education](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/communities/stem-education.html) - [Employee Focused Programs](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/communities/employee-focused-programs.html) - - [Diversity & Inclusion](http://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/global-diversity-inclusion.html) - [Equal Opportunities Programs](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/global-diversity-inclusion/equal-opportunity-programs.html) - [Sustainability](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/sustainability.html) - [Sustainability Report](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/sustainability/downloads.html) - [Energy, Environment, Safety & Health](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/eesh.html) - - [Ethics](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/ethics.html) - [Code Of Conduct](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/ethics/code-of-ethics.html) - [Business Conduct Compliance Training](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/ethics/business-conduct-compliance-training.html) - [Ethics Awareness Training](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/ethics/ethics-awareness-training.html) - [Integrity Minute](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/ethics/integrity-minute.html) - What We Do - - Featured - [Sikorsky](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/sikorsky.html) - Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, is engineering the future of vertical lift. - - [Capabilities](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities.html) - [Aircraft](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/aircraft.html) - [Energy](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/energy.html) - [Maritime Systems](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/maritime-systems.html) - [Missile Defense](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/missile-defense.html) - [Space](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/space.html) - [Training, Logistics & Sustainment](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/training-logistics-sustainment.html) - [Weapon Systems](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/weapon-systems.html) - - [Enabling Technologies](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities.html) - [Advanced Manufacturing](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/advanced-manufacturing.html) - [Autonomous and Unmanned Systems](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/autonomous-unmanned-systems.html) - [C4ISR](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/c4isr.html) - [Cyber](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/cyber.html) - [Directed Energy](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/directed-energy.html) - [Electronic Warfare](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/electronic-warfare.html) - [Radar & Sensors](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/radar-sensors.html) - - [Suppliers](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/suppliers.html) - [Business Area Procurement](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/suppliers/business-area-procurement.html) - [Ethics](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/suppliers/ethics.html) - [Supplier Cybersecurity](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/suppliers/cybersecurity.html) - [Supplier Diversity](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/suppliers/supplier-diversity.html) - [Supplier Training](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/suppliers/training.html) - News & Events - - Featured - [Generation Beyond](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/communities/stem-education/generation-beyond.html) - An educational program inspiring young innovators, explorers, inventors and pioneers to pursue STEM careers. - - [Newsroom](http://news.lockheedmartin.com/?_ga=2.936825.912686070.1522037477-1391433083.1522037477) - [Media Contacts](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/media-contacts.html) - [News Releases](https://news.lockheedmartin.com/news-releases?_ga=2.936825.912686070.1522037477-1391433083.1522037477) - [Features](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/features.html) - [Speeches and Statements](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/statements-speeches.html) - [Annual Reports](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/annual-reports.html) - - [Trade Shows](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/events.html) - [Social Media](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/social-media.html) - [Multimedia](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/multimedia.html) - [Find an Expert](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/speakers-experts.html) - Innovation - - - At Lockheed Martin, we're pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery and defending global security—making science-fiction concepts, real. - - [Hybrid Airship](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/features/2017/solving-the-challenge-of-moving-wind-turbine-components.html) - Solving the Challenge of Moving Wind Turbine Components - - [How a Career in Aviation Can Help People Around the Globe](http://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/features/2017/webt-how-a-career-in-aviation-can-lead-to-helping-people-around-the-globe.html) - What can you do with an interest in aviation and passion for helping others around the world? - - [6 To Dos Before Applying for a Job In Aviation](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/features/2017/webt-your-to-do-list-before-applying-for-a-job-in-aviation.html) - If you read this article, odds are you already made one of the best decisions of your professional life—you’re pursuing a career in aviation. - [Investors](http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=83941&p=irol-IRHome) - Careers - - Featured - [Featured Opportunities](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/events) - Challenge yourself with thought-provoking projects. - - [Get to Know Lockheed Martin](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/get-to-know-us) - [Life at Lockheed Martin](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/life-at-lockheed-martin) - [FAQs](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/faq) - [College Students](http://lockheedmartinjobs.com/college-students.aspx) - [Campus Events](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/campus-events) - [Engineering Connect](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/engineering-connect) - [Leadership Development](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/leadership-development) - [On-Site Hiring Events](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/onsite-hiring-events) - - [Military](http://lockheedmartinjobs.com/military.aspx) - [Meet Our Military Relations Managers](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/military-relations-managers) - [Military Connect](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/military-connect) - [Military Events](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/military-events) - [Partnerships](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/partnerships) - [Skills Translator](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/skills-translator) - - [Career Areas](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/career-areas) - [Events](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/events) - [Returning Job Seekers: Students](https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=25037&siteid=5014#home) - [Returning Job Seekers: Experienced](https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=25037&siteid=5010#home) - [SAVED JOBS](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/saved-jobs) - [United States](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/) - [Australia](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-au/careers.html) - [Canada](https://www.lockheedmartin.ca/ca/careers.html) - [United Kingdom](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-gb/careers.html) - - - FEATURED - STELaRLab - Learn about our national research and development operations centre for our current research portfolio in Australia. - - Australia - [English](http://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-au/index.html) - Canada - [English | French](https://www.lockheedmartin.ca/ca/fr.html) - Germany - [English](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/international/germany.html) - India - [English](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/international/india.html) - Israel - [English | Hebrew](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/he-il/index.html) - Italy - [English](http://www.f35.com/global/participation/italy) - - Japan - [English](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/international/japan.html) - New Zealand - [English](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-au/new-zealand.html) - Poland - [English](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/international/poland.html) - Republic of Korea - [English | Korean](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/ko-kr/republic-of-korea.html) - Saudi Arabia - [English](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/international/saudi-arabia.html) - Singapore - [English](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/international/singapore.html) - - Taiwan - [English](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/international/taiwan.html) - Turkey - [English](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/international/turkey.html) - United Arabic Emirates - [English](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/international/united-arab-emirates.html) - United Kingdom - [English](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-gb/index.html) - United States - [English](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/index.html) SEARCH - [Who We Are](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/products.html#) - [About Us](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/who-we-are.html) - [In the Community](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/who-we-are/communities.html) - [Diversity & Inclusion](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/who-we-are/global-diversity-inclusion.html) - [Sustainability](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/who-we-are/sustainability.html) - [Energy, Environment, Safety & Health](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/who-we-are/eesh.html) - [Ethics](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/who-we-are/ethics.html) - [What We Do](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/products.html#) - [Capabilities](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/capabilities.html) - [Enabling Technologies](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/capabilities.html) - [Suppliers](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/suppliers.html) - [View All Products](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/products.html) - [News & Events](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/products.html#) - [Newsroom](http://news.lockheedmartin.com/?_ga=2.254371392.912686070.1522037477-1391433083.1522037477) - [Trade Shows](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/news/events.html) - [Social Media](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/news/social-media.html) - [Multimedia](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/news/multimedia.html) - [Find an Expert](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/news/speakers-experts.html) - [Innovation](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/products.html#) - [Hybrid Airship](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/news/features/2017/solving-the-challenge-of-moving-wind-turbine-components.html) - [How a Career in Aviation Can Help People Around the Globe](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/news/features/2017/webt-how-a-career-in-aviation-can-lead-to-helping-people-around-the-globe.html) - [6 To Dos Before Applying for a Job In Aviation](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/news/features/2017/webt-your-to-do-list-before-applying-for-a-job-in-aviation.html) - [Read our stories of Innovation](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/news/features/innovations.html) - [Investors](http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=83941&p=irol-IRHome) - [Careers](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/products.html#) - [Get to Know Lockheed Martin](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/get-to-know-us) - [College Students](http://lockheedmartinjobs.com/college-students.aspx) - [Military](http://lockheedmartinjobs.com/military.aspx) - [Career Areas](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/career-areas) - [Events](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/events) - [Returning Job Seekers: Students](https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=25037&siteid=5014#home) - [Returning Job Seekers: Experienced](https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=25037&siteid=5010#home) - [SAVED JOBS](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/saved-jobs) - [United States](https://lockheedmartinjobs.com/) - [Australia](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-au/careers.html) - [Canada](https://www.lockheedmartin.ca/ca/careers.html) - [United Kingdom](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-gb/careers.html) # Lockheed Martin IQ # Is your meteorologist a robot? Technology behind your weather forecast Posted by [Lisa Callahan](https://contact.lockheedmartin.com/blog/author/lisa-callahan) on Jan 14, 2020 4:07:11 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) There are people who check the weather every day. And then there are people who check the weather once or twice a season to see if a blizzard is coming or if they need to bring a jacket on family vacation. ![Lisa Callahan Portraits-008-1](https://contact.lockheedmartin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Lisa%20Callahan%20Portraits-008-1.jpg?width=300&name=Lisa%20Callahan%20Portraits-008-1.jpg) I’m the latter, which is a tad ironic since I oversee the team at Lockheed Martin Space who manufactures weather satellites. When my husband, the self-proclaimed weather geek, quotes meteorologists’ forecasts — most of which are made using inputs from our [GOES-R satellites](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/goes-r-series.html) — it always puts a smile on my face. While our [GOES-R](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/goes-r-series.html) technology is used every day to create accurate weather forecasts around the world, Lockheed Martin’s weather story doesn’t start there. Our satellites and systems have been working to save lives and property for over 70 years. Since our heritage company began building [Radiosondes](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/meteorological-instrumentation.html) for the military in 1949, we’ve built six million of those and 107 weather satellites. These products have evolved from tracking weather to also tracking people in distress. The GOES-R satellites have a special Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking ([SARSAT](https://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/)) System to [find lost explorers](https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/content/sarsat-us-rescues) around the world at any time and in almost any condition. Last summer, these tracking devices helped save [stranded boaters](https://caymannewsservice.com/2019/08/police-come-to-rescue-of-stranded-boat/) off the coast of the Cayman Islands, [a pilot who crawled from a downed aircraft](https://sar.gsfc.nasa.gov/node/686) in the forests north of Chattanooga, and a [crashed motorcyclist](https://sar.gsfc.nasa.gov/node/678) in the mountains of Montana. **Building life-saving weather forecasting technology** Our company’s weather footprint allows meteorologists to gather some other amazing, life-saving data, too. For example, the U.S. Air Force’s [WC-130 Hurricane Hunters](https://twitter.com/53rdWRS) aircraft — which are built by our Aeronautics team in Marietta, Georgia — fly crewmembers into the belly of the beast during storms to collect high-density, highly accurate weather data about the pressure, temperature, humidity and wind speed of hurricanes and tropical storms. This data is used to help forecasters and state agencies decide where the storm is headed and when to evacuate the people in its path. Another example is our [Mark IV-B software](https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/115037/21st-operational-weather-squadron-equipment-forecast-saved-millions/), which lets military meteorologists analyze different types of weather data from our partners around the world, including Canada’s, Japan’s, and the European Union’s weather agencies. These analyses can help warfighters make quick decisions about rerouting around fog or understanding exactly how thick and dangerous a volcanic ash cloud may be. We also build [WindTracer,](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/windtracer.html) a wind measurement tool that pulses laser beams to measure aircraft wakes for hundreds of thousands flights across the world and provides real-time warnings of hazardous winds. **Tracking weather in space and beyond** With all the advances we’ve made in weather technology, it’s hard to imagine where we go from here. As we continue to grow our presence beyond Earth, we also need to understand the weather in space. Tracking space weather — like solar flares — helps protect our existing orbital fleet from space-based dangers. New [SmartSat™ tech](https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2019-03-20-Lockheed-Martins-First-Smart-Satellites-are-Tiny-with-Big-Missions) will also allow satellite operators to adjust the satellite’s mission while it’s already in orbit. SmartSat isn’t a robot per se, but it takes advantage of multi-core processing (something new to space!) to let satellites process more data in orbit so they can beam down only the most critical and relevant information. This saves customers bandwidth costs and reduces the burden on ground station analysts, ultimately opening the door for tomorrow's data centers in space. As winter weather sets in across the U.S. — weather geeks or not — we’ll all continue to rely on satellite data for our day-to-day decisions. Today’s data will continue saving lives and property — on our planet and perhaps someday, beyond. [![LM-logo-White](https://contact.lockheedmartin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LM-logo-White.png?width=1924&height=343&name=LM-logo-White.png)](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/lockheed-martin/en-us/index.html) © 2023 Lockheed Martin Corporation. All Rights Reserved. / [Privacy](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/contact/disclaimer.html#privacy) / [Terms of Use](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/contact/disclaimer.html) / [EU Data Protection Notice](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/contact/lockheed-martin-corporation-privacy-notice-eu.html) / [Cookies](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/contact/cookies.html) / Stock Price \[ 315.87 \] - - - - -