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

[4] Following launch, it was positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 90° West for on-orbit testing.

GOES-9 suffered from a design fault with the motor windings in its imager and sounder, with one of two sets failing in 1997.

It was drawing more power than expected, and generating noise, visible in some of the images it returned.

[5] After the other wheel started developing the same problem in July, a decision was made to replace GOES-9 with the backup satellite, GOES-10.