NOAA and NASA are now targeting February 16, 2022, for the launch of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite T (GOES-T) mission.
This launch was previously planned for January 8, 2022. Changes to launch dates in missions scheduled ahead of GOES-T prompted NASA, NOAA and United Launch Alliance (ULA) to coordinate the new target date to optimize launch schedules for missions flying from Space Launch Complex-41.
GOES-T, the third satellite in NOAA’s advanced GOES-R series, will be renamed GOES-18 once it reaches geostationary orbit. After the satellite completes checkout of its instruments and systems, the new satellite will go into operation as GOES West and work in tandem with GOES-16, which operates in the GOES East position.
GOES-T will launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on a ULA Atlas V 541 rocket. The two-hour launch window will open at 4:40 p.m., EST. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing the launch.
NOAA manages the GOES-R Series Program through an integrated NOAA-NASA office, administering the ground system contract, operating the satellites and distributing their data to users worldwide. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center oversees the acquisition of the GOES-R spacecraft and instruments. Lockheed Martin designs, creates, and tests the GOES-R series satellites. L3Harris Technologies provides the main instrument payload, the Advanced Baseline Imager, along with the ground system, which includes the antenna system for data reception.
Looking forward, NOAA is working with NASA on the next-generation geostationary satellite mission called GeoXO, which will bring new capabilities in support of U.S. weather, ocean, and climate operations in the 2030s. NASA will manage the development of the GeoXO satellites and launch them for NOAA.
Thanks, also, to Carl Reinemann, Radio Guy
