GOES-5 was built by Hughes Space and Communications, and was based on the HS-371 satellite bus.

At launch it had a mass of 660 kilograms (1,460 lb),[2] with an expected operational lifespan of around seven years.

[5] The launch successfully placed GOES-E into a geostationary transfer orbit, from which it raised itself to geostationary orbit on 2 June by means of an onboard Star 27 apogee motor.

[4] The primary instrument carried aboard GOES-5, the Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer or VISSR, failed in 1984.

[2] The GOES-1 and GOES-4 satellites were reactivated to fill the gap in coverage until a replacement could be launched.