All systems GOES for new satellite
30 Jun 2009
The USA's latest Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, GOES-O, soared into space on Sunday morning, Sydney time, after a successful launch from Space Launch Complex 37 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
The GOES-O spacecraft lifted off at 8:51am (6:51pm US EDT, Saturday) on a Delta IV rocket. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) GOES-O satellite will improve weather forecasting and monitor environmental events around the world. The satellite is the second to be launched in the GOES N series of geostationary environmental weather satellites.
"All indications are that GOES-O is in a normal orbit, with all spacecraft systems functioning properly," stated Andre Dress, GOES deputy project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre. "We are proud of our support teams and pleased with the performance of the Delta IV launch vehicle."
Approximately four hours and 21 minutes after launch, the spacecraft separated from the launch vehicle. The Universal Space Network Western Australia tracking site in Dongara monitored the spacecraft separation.
< An artist's impression of the GOES-O satellite in orbit.
On July 7, GOES-O will be placed in its final orbit and renamed GOES-14. Approximately 24 days after launch, Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems will turn engineering control over to NASA. About five months later, NASA will transfer operational control of GOES-14 to NOAA. The satellite will be checked out, "stored" in orbit and available for activation should one of the operational GOES satellites degrade or exhaust its fuel.
A geostationary&#—"Earth+stationary"—satellite is one whose orbital period precisely matches that of the rotation of the Earth, so that it appears to always stay above the same spot on the globe.
NASA contracted with Boeing to build and launch the GOES-O spacecraft. NASA's Launch Services Programme at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida supported the launch in an advisory role. NOAA manages the GOES program, establishes requirements, provides all funding and distributes environmental satellite data for the United States. Goddard procures and manages the design, development and launch of the satellites for NOAA on a cost-reimbursable basis.
More information: GOES-O mission
Adapted from information issued by NASA.
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