GOES-S spacecraft delivered to Astrotech Space Operations in preparation for March flight
A USAF C-5M aircraft arrives at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the Geostationary Operation Environmental Satellite-S (GOES-S).
Photo Credit: Leif Heimbold / NASA
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — A U.S. Air Force C-5M Super Galaxy cargo transport aircraft has delivered the Geostationary Operation Environmental Satellite-S (GOES-S) spacecraft to Florida’s Space Coast in preparation for a planned March 1, 2018, flight atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket.
The GOES-S satellite was delivered to NASA’s Shuttle Landing Facility and was ferried to the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Florida on Monday, Dec. 4.
GOES S is the next generation of weather satellites (with -S, -T, and -U currently slated to be launched) that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is having fielded to provide improved weather forecasting services.
This new series of satellites is based on Lockheed Martin‘s A2100A design and is planned to be in service for at least 15 years (10 in actual service with the remaining five on standby).
GOES S will spend the next few weeks at Astrotech’s facilities where it will undergo various tests, checkouts, and final preparations before it is sent aloft.
Jason Rhian
Jason Rhian spent several years honing his skills with internships at NASA, the National Space Society and other organizations. He has provided content for outlets such as: Aviation Week & Space Technology, Space.com, The Mars Society and Universe Today.
