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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2009
Contact: John Leslie
202-527-3504, cellular
David Miller
202-329-4030, cellular
New NOAA Satellite Reaches Orbit
Satellite features enhanced severe weather and solar storm detection capabilities
NOAA and NASA officials announced a new Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES),
launched tonight, successfully reached orbit, joining three other GOES spacecraft that help NOAA
forecasters track life-threatening weather and solar storms.
The new satellite, GOES-14, lifted off at 6:51 p.m. EDT from
the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. It separated from the
launch vehicle at 11:12 p.m. EDT. At the same time, the first signal
was captured at the Air Force Tracking Station, Diego Garcia,
located in the Indian Ocean. “Reliable satellite coverage helps us see severe weather as it develops,” said Mary E. Kicza, assistant
administrator for NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service. “With more than a thousand tornadoes
touching down in the United States each year, and hurricanes a serious risk to residents along the
Gulf and East coastlines, it’s critical GOES-14 is in orbit and ready
when needed.”
GOES-14 is the second spacecraft in the GOES-N/O/P series and features significant improvements in the
instruments that capture high-resolution pictures of weather patterns and atmospheric measurements.
“The imagery and data we get from GOES is key to our ability to continuously monitor and diagnose weather
in the tropics,” said Bill Read, director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center in Miami. “Continued
improvements in the type and quality of GOES data will contribute to improvements in tropical cyclone
forecasts”.
GOES-14 also provides expanded measurements for space and solar environment monitoring, including the
Solar X-Ray Imager. The SXI is improving forecasts and warnings for solar disturbances, protecting
billions of dollars of commercial and government assets in space and on the ground and lessening the
effect of power surges for the satellite-based electronics and communications industry
NOAA has two operational GOES satellites hovering 22,300 miles
above the equator – GOES-12, in the
east, and GOES-11, in the west – each provide continuous observations
of environmental conditions of North, Central and South America and surrounding
oceans. While these two are operational, another
GOES satellite, GOES-13, is in orbital storage and can be activated
if one of the other satellites experiences trouble. These satellites supply
the data critical for fast, accurate weather forecasts
and warnings, detecting solar storm activity and relaying distress
signals from emergency beacons.
Once it reaches geostationary orbit, GOES-14 will undergo a series
of tests for approximately six months before completing its “check-out” phase.
After check out, GOES-14 will be placed into orbital storage mode.
NOAA manages the operational environmental satellite program and establishes requirements, provides
all funding and distributes environmental satellite data for the United States. NASA's Goddard Space
Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., procures and manages the development and launch of the satellites
for NOAA on a cost reimbursable basis.
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to
the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.
Visit http://www.noaa.gov.
GOES-O Lanuch Photos:
Launch Photos
http://www.launchphotography.com/GOES-O.html* / Ben Cooper
Related Links:
GOES-O Data Book (.pdf)
Fact Sheet GOES-O (.pdf)
Delta IV Pad Tour (.mov)
GOES-N Stands Ready Video*
GOES-O Mission Overview Video
GOES-O Delta IV Photos Photos
GOES-O Mission Booklet from ULA(.pdf)
GOES-O Launch Footage
(Note: a link with a * beside it will lead
you out of the Federal Government webspace)
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