A it is.
(A)
The images captured by GOES-11, a geostationary weather satellite that is operated by the United States and has much in common with the Japanese MTSAT-1R satellite,
have proven useful to scientists and laymen alike.:
Correct: The images are useful to scientists and the two satellites are correctly compared(B) The images captured by a geostationary weather satellite, GOES-11, operated by the United States and with many commonalities to the Japanese MTSAT-1R satellite, has proven useful to scientists and laymen alike.:
Incorrect, Images are compared with the Japanese satellite, and HAS proven is wrong for a plural noun(Images)(C) Useful to scientists and laymen alike, the images captured by a geostationary weather satellite, GOES-11, operated by the United States and having much in common with the Japanese MTSAT-1R satellite, have proven themselves.
Incorrect, Images are compared with the Japanese satellite(D) Operated by the United States, having much in common with the Japanese MTSAT-1R satellite is GOES-11, a geostationary weather satellite, the images captured by which have proven useful to scientists and laymen alike.
Incorrect, Illogical construction(E) Operated by the United States and with many commonalities to the Japanese MTSAT-1R satellite, the images captured by a geostationary weather satellite, GOES-11, have proven useful to scientists and laymen alike.
Incorrect, Operated is modifying the images not GOES-11