GOES-O satellite goes into space

William Atkins
Sunday, 28 June 2009 18:58

Science - Space

According to the June 27, 2009 NASA media brief NASA and NOAA’s GOES-O Satellite Successfully Launched, “Approximately 4 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.”

The launch vehicle for the GOES-O satellite was a Delta 4 rocket.

Andre Dress, GOES deputy project manager (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland) stated, “All indications are that GOES-O is in a normal orbit, with all spacecraft systems functioning properly…. We are proud of our support teams and pleased with the performance of the Delta IV launch vehicle." [NASA]

On July 7, 2009, the satellite will be inserted into its final orbit. At that time, it will be renamed GOES-14. The NASA article states, “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."

Currently, four GOES satellites are in orbit: GOES 10 is at 60 degrees West longitude and provides coverage of South America; GOES-11 (or, GOES-West) is located at 135 degrees West longitude and is positioned over the Pacific Ocean; GOES-12 (or, GOES-East) is at 75 degrees West longitude and positioned over the Amazon River (it provides most of the weather prediction for the United States); and GOES-13 is at 105 degrees West longitude. Both GOES-13 and GOES-14 are inactive, to be turned on if one of the other three satellites fail in orbit.

The Boeing Company built and launched the GOES-O spacecraft. NASA's Launch Services Program (NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida) supported the launch as an advisor.

NOAA manages the GOES program, establishes the requirements for the program, provides all of its funding, and distributes environmental satellite data throughout the United States.

Goddard procures and manages the design, development, and launch of the satellites for NOAA, which is done on a "cost-reimbursable basis."

The next scheduled launch for the GOES program is April 8, 2010, when GOES-P goes up.