GOES-U set for June 25 launch following repairs to latest NOAA satellite
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 01, 2024

NASA and SpaceX have rescheduled the launch of the GOES-U satellite, marking the culmination of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) - R Series, to June 25. This adjustment provides the necessary window to address and thoroughly examine a liquid oxygen leak discovered in the Falcon Heavy's core booster during a routine inspection in February. With the issue now resolved, preparations for the GOES-U's deployment from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A in Florida are back on track, employing a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

The GOES-R Series Program, which includes GOES-U as the final installment, is a cooperative effort overseen by an integrated NOAA-NASA office. This partnership extends to the satellites' operational management, the dissemination of their valuable data worldwide, and the oversight of the program's ground systems. The Goddard Space Flight Center at NASA spearheads the acquisition of spacecraft and instruments for the series, having also developed the Magnetometer for both GOES-T and GOES-U satellites. Additionally, the Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center is charged with managing the series' launch operations.

Lockheed Martin has played a pivotal role in the design, construction, and testing of the satellites within the GOES-R series. Further complementing the project, L3Harris Technologies has contributed significantly, supplying the series' key instrument, the Advanced Baseline Imager. This technology is critical for capturing atmospheric observations. L3Harris also developed the ground system necessary for the reception of satellite data, incorporating advanced antenna systems.

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