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Contact:  Patricia Viets                         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
          NOAA/NESDIS                            4/25/97
          Allen Kenitzer
          NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
          Stephanie Kenitzer
          NOAA/NWS
          George Diller
          NASA Kennedy Space Center 

The third in a series of five advanced U.S. weather satellites was successfully launched at 1:49 this morning from Cape Canaveral Air Station, the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced today.

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, now called NOAA GOES-K, will be renamed NOAA GOES-10 once geostationary orbit is achieved. These satellites orbit the equatorial plane of the Earth at a speed matching the Earth's rotation. This allows them to hover continuously over one position on the surface. The geostationary orbit is usually reached at about 35,800 km (22,300 miles) above the Earth, high enough to allow the satellites a full-disc view of the Earth.

"GOES satellites are vital to weather forecasting in the United States," said Gerry Dittberner, NOAA's GOES program manager. "The GOES satellites are a critical component of the ongoing National Weather Service modernization program, aiding forecasters in providing more precise and timely forecasts. With GOES-K, we are ensuring the continuity of GOES data."

The real-time weather data gathered by GOES satellites, combined with data from Doppler radars and automated surface observing systems, greatly aids weather forecasters in providing better warnings of thunderstorms, winter storms, flash floods, hurricanes, and other severe weather. These warnings help to save lives, preserve property, and benefit commercial interests.

The United States operates two meteorological satellites in geostationary orbit, one over the East Coast and one over the West Coast. NOAA GOES-9, launched on May 23, 1995, is currently overlooking the West Coast out into the Pacific including Hawaii. It is over the Equator at 135 degrees West longitude at an altitude of 22,236 statute miles. NOAA GOES-8, launched in April 1994, overlooks the East Coast out into the Atlantic Ocean and is positioned at 75 degrees West. NOAA GOES-K will be stored on orbit at 105 degrees West longitude and placed into operation when needed as a replacement for GOES-8 or -9.

NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service operates the GOES series of satellites. After the satellites complete on-orbit checkout, NOAA assumes responsibility for command and control, data receipt, and product generation and distribution.

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center manages the GOES contract for NASA's Office of Mission to Planet Earth, Washington, D.C. Goddard manages the design, development, and launch of the spacecraft for NOAA. NASA's Lewis Research Center is responsible for the launch services contract with Lockheed Martin. NASA's Kennedy Space Center is responsible for government oversight of launch operations and countdown activities. NOAA GOES-K, built by Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of Loral Space and Communications Ltd., was launched on an Atlas I rocket, built by Lockheed Martin.

The next two satellites in the GOES series will be launched as required to support NOAA's dual-satellite geostationary observing system.

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