[1][2] At launch, the satellite had a mass of 2,105 kilograms (4,641 lb), and an expected operational lifespan of three or five years.

[5] The launch occurred at 06:04 GMT on 13 April 1994,[5] and placed the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

[3] During the first burn of the apogee motor, an unusually high temperature was detected in one of the flanges upon which a thruster was mounted,[6] however later analysis, based on satellites using similar thruster systems, demonstrated that it was still acceptable.

[4][7] Following on-orbit testing, it was activated as the GOES-EAST satellite, allowing GOES-7, which had previously been covering both positions, to assume GOES-WEST operations.

GOES-8 suffered from a design fault with the motor windings in its imager and sounder, with one of two sets failing within a few years of it becoming operational.