• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Weatherboy

Weatherboy Weather News, Maps, RADAR, Satellite, and Forecasts.

  • Local
  • Earth Science News
  • RADAR
  • Current Warnings
  • Satellite
  • Current Maps
  • Forecast Maps
  • Video

GOES-S Successfully Launched

by Weatherboy Team Meteorologist - March 3, 2018

The United Launch Alliance Delta V rocket lifted off from its launch pad, bringing GOES-S weather satellite into space. Photograh: Dr. Ken Kremer Exclusive for Weatherboy
The United Launch Alliance Delta V rocket lifted off from its launch pad, bringing GOES-S weather satellite into space. Photograph: Dr. Ken Kremer Exclusive for Weatherboy




After a successful launch on Thursday evening, NASA and NOAA have confirmed that the GOES-S weather satellite launch was a complete success. A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the GOES-S mission for NASA and NOAA lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 on March 1 at 5:02pm. GOES-S is the second satellite in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-R series of satellites, which have played a vital role in weather forecasting, storm tracking and meteorological research.

Miss our live stream of tonight's #GOESS launch? Here it is, from high atop the VAB at @NASAKennedy . Stunning launch! Great job @NASA, @NOAA, @NWS, @ulalaunch , @HarrisCorp , @LockheedMartin , @NOAASatellites , & countless partners that made today's event possible! pic.twitter.com/S3ohzJHrmi

— the Weatherboy (@theWeatherboy) March 2, 2018

Dr. Ken Kremer stands in front of the GOES-S satellite in the weeks ahead of its launch. Dr. Kremer is now providing exclusive photographs to Weatherboy of key earth science missions on the US East Coast. Photograph: Dr. Ken Kremer Exclusively for Weatherboy
Dr. Ken Kremer stands in front of the GOES-S satellite in the weeks ahead of its launch. Dr. Kremer is now providing exclusive photographs to Weatherboy of key earth science missions on the US East Coast. Photograph: Dr. Ken Kremer Exclusive for Weatherboy

“We at NASA Science are proud to support our joint agency partner NOAA on today’s launch of GOES-S, a national asset that will impact lives across the Western Hemisphere each and every day,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA associate administrator for science, who attended Thursday’s launch.

Once GOES-S is positioned in a geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above Earth, in approximately two weeks, it will be renamed GOES-17. After undergoing a full checkout and validation of its six high-tech instruments, the new satellite will move to the GOES-West position and become operational in roughly 6 months from now. From there, it constantly will provide advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements, real-time mapping of lightning activity, and improved monitoring of solar activity and space weather.




In addition to improving weather forecasts, GOES-17 will help forecasters locate and track wildfires – invaluable information that emergency response teams need to fight fires and evacuate people out of harm’s way. GOES-17 also will be an important tool for forecasters to track and predict the formation and dissipation of fog, which can disrupt airport operations.

“Thank you to our partners at NASA and NOAA for the outstanding teamwork, as we delivered this next-generation satellite to orbit,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. “We are proud to serve as the ultimate launch provider, continuing our dedication to 100 percent mission success.”

The GOES-S weather satellite sits atop the Atlas V rocket at NASA Kennedy Space Center on the day before launch. Photograph: Weatherboy
The GOES-S weather satellite sits atop the Atlas V rocket at NASA Kennedy Space Center on the day before launch. Photograph: Weatherboy

GOES-S will join GOES-R in space. GOES-R was successfully launched by an Atlas V rocket on November 19, 2016. The next-generation GOES-R, now known as GOES-EAST,  scans the Earth five times faster at four times the image resolution, with triple the number of data channels than previous GOES satellites for more reliable forecasts.

This mission was launched aboard an Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) 541 configuration, which includes a 5-meter payload fairing. The Atlas booster for this mission was powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine. Aerojet Rocketdyne provided the four AJ-60A solid rocket boosters and the RL10C-1 engine for the Centaur upper stage.


This is the 76th launch of the Atlas V rocket, ULA’s 3rd launch in 2018 and the 126th successful launch since the company was formed in December 2006. ULA has bragging rights of launching the entire GOES series of weather satellites since 1975.

Primary Sidebar

Sponsored Ad

Search

Latest News

  • Mid Atlantic to Become Extra Moist
  • Southeast Soaker Likely Next 72 Hours
  • Igloo Cooler Recalled Due to Amputation / Crushing Threat
  • Longtime TV Meteorologist Fired
  • Spacecraft Launched by Soviet Union in 1972 Crashed Back on Earth Today
  • Strong Tennessee Earthquake Reported by 35,000+ People
  • Updated Crash Forecast Puts Eastern U.S. on Alert from Soviet Union Spacecraft
  • Soviet Union Spacecraft Crash Zones Updated; NJ/NY/PA/MI at Increased Risk
About | Careers | Contact | Contests
Terms | Privacy | Ad Choices
Weatherboy is a (R) Registered Trademark of isarithm LLC, All Rights Reserved.
All content herein is Copyright by Isarithm LLC 1997-2022