NOAAs GOES-T is the 3rd satellite in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)– R Series, the Western Hemispheres most advanced weather-observing and environmental-monitoring system. The GOES-R Series offers advanced images and climatic measurements, real-time mapping of lightning activity, and monitoring of area weather condition. Credit: NOAA
An activity completed at Astrotechs Space Operations center in Titusville the other day brings NOAAs Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite T (GOES-T) objective one significant action more detailed to its March 1, 2022, liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida in simply over a month.
On January 27, 2022, the spacecraft was lifted and mated to the payload adapter– a piece of hardware that interfaces mechanically in between the spacecraft and the rocket. When it gets on orbit, the payload adapter likewise has actually the capability constructed into it to enable the spacecraft to separate from the rocket.
” It is the start of integrated operations, which is now the rocket and the satellite are starting to come together,” stated GOES-T Mission Manager Rex Engelhardt. “Weve been doing a great deal of analysis, but this is the very first piece of rocket hardware that were putting together with the satellite.”
Next week, the very first stage of the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 541 rocket for GOES-T will be erected. ULA also will be cleaning each half of the payload fairing during this timeframe. Upcoming crucial February activities include encapsulation, where the 2 pieces of the payload fairing come together to protect the satellite inside, raise to the transporter, and transportation and mate to the launch car. GOES-T is targeted to roll to the launch pad on Feb. 28.
The 3rd satellite in NOAAs GOES-R series, GOES-Ts launch is handled by NASAs Launch Services Program based at the firms Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Americas multi-user spaceport. The GOES satellite network helps meteorologists observe and anticipate regional weather condition events that affect public security, consisting of thunderstorms, tornadoes, fog, hurricanes, flash floods, and other extreme weather condition. GOES-T will supply important information for the U.S. West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Central America, and the Pacific Ocean.