. 24/7 Space News .
TECH SPACE
NOAA'S GOES-T satellite undergoes testing to simulate launch and orbit conditions
by Staff Writers
Littleton CO (SPX) Sep 30, 2020

Technicians work on GOES-T in a clean room at Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colorado.

GOES-T, the third satellite in NOAA's GOES-R Series, is fully assembled and beginning a set of rigorous tests to ensure it can withstand the harsh conditions of launch and the space environment in which it will reside once it reaches geostationary orbit 22,236 miles above Earth. The testing is taking place at Lockheed Martin Corporation's Littleton, Colorado, facility, where the spacecraft was built.

GOES-T is currently undergoing thermal vacuum testing in a large 29' x 65' chamber. During thermal vacuum testing, the spacecraft will experience a vast range of temperatures, with some parts reaching as high as 188 degrees Fahrenheit (87 degrees Celsius) and others dropping as low as minus 67 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 55 degrees Celsius). This testing simulates the extreme temperatures of launch and the space environment.

After GOES-T is removed from the thermal vacuum chamber, several other tests will follow. The satellite will undergo vibration testing to simulate the stresses experienced during launch to ensure there are no structural weaknesses. Shock testing will make sure the spacecraft can withstand the shocks encountered during separation from the launch vehicle and deployment of the solar panels.

Acoustics testing will use high-intensity horns to subject the satellite to extremely high sound pressure that simulates the noises created when the rocket is launched. Finally, GOES-T will undergo electromagnetic testing to ensure that the electromagnetic signals produced by satellite components do not interfere with its operation.

At specific points during the testing, the Mission Operations Team (MOST) will conduct a set of end-to-end tests that command the spacecraft from the ground system. The end-to-end tests validate the compatibility of flight and ground hardware, software, and communications interfaces in a mission operations context. The full set of environmental, mechanical, end-to-end, and electromagnetic tests will take approximately ten months to complete.

GOES-T faced some unique challenges to get to this point. In 2018, during post-launch testing of the GOES-17 Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), scientists discovered an issue with the instrument's cooling system. The loop heat pipe (LHP) subsystem, which transfers heat from the ABI electronics to the radiator, is not operating as designed. As a result, the ABI detectors can't be maintained at their intended temperatures under specific orbital conditions, leading to a partial loss of infrared imagery at certain times.

An investigation found the most likely cause of the thermal performance issue to be foreign object debris blocking the flow of the coolant in the loop heat pipes. As a result, an independent review team recommended changes to the design of the ABI radiator and loop heat pipes for GOES-T and GOES-U to decrease the chance of future cooling system anomalies. The new design utilizes a simpler hardware configuration that eliminates the filters that are susceptible to debris.

In addition to changes in the ABI cooling system design, the GOES-T and GOES-U satellites will carry an upgraded magnetometer instrument from the one aboard GOES-16 and GOES-17. The magnetometer, built by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and known as GMAG, is expected to provide improved performance to meet mission requirements. The magnetometer measures magnetic field variations that are associated with space weather.

The team also had to contend with a pandemic while integrating the GOES-T instruments and spacecraft. "Our work environment changed dramatically in March with the arrival of COVID-19," said Pam Sullivan, GOES-R System Program Director. "With most personnel working remotely and on-site work limited to critical operations, we had to adapt how we accomplished the mission. My main concern is the safety and wellbeing of our people."

New safety and social-distancing procedures have been put in place for personnel who remained on-site at facilities across the country, and new remote access and monitoring systems were implemented. "Our team continues to rise to the challenge and keep critical work going during this very uncertain time. I couldn't be prouder of everyone for staying positive, being flexible and compassionate, and meeting adversity with determination and ingenuity," said Sullivan.

GOES-T is scheduled to launch in December 2021 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The satellite will be renamed GOES-18 once it reaches geostationary orbit, and is currently planned to reside in on-orbit storage until it transitions to operational service.

It will also be available to provide backup operations for GOES-16 (GOES-East) and GOES-17 (GOES-West), which serve as NOAA's current operational constellation. The centrally located on-orbit storage will allow GOES-18 to quickly move into position if either GOES-16 or GOES-17 experience an anomaly and to eventually transition to operations as GOES-West.

The GOES-R Program is a four-satellite mission that includes GOES-R (GOES-16, launched in 2016), GOES-S (GOES-17, launched in 2018), GOES-T and GOES-U. GOES-U is currently scheduled for launch in 2024. The program is a collaborative effort between NOAA and NASA. NASA builds and launches the satellites for NOAA, which operates them. The satellites provide critical data for weather forecasts and warnings, detection and monitoring of environmental hazards like fire, smoke, fog, volcanic ash, and dust, and monitoring of solar activity and space weather.


Related Links
GOES-R Series
Space Technology News - Applications and Research


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


TECH SPACE
Satcom to foster resilient digital systems
Paris (ESA) Sep 29, 2020
Telecommunications are becoming increasingly crucial to our society, economy and security. ESA is supporting the European satellite communication industry's efforts to identify how to meet future worldwide demands for more secure and resilient digital systems. Earlier this month ESA initiated two parallel studies to envisage the shape of the future secure telecommunications market and to clarify which solutions and disruptive technologies will be needed. The results will inform work undertak ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

TECH SPACE
ISS moves to avoid space debris

Be a Space Traffic Controller

NASA, US Space Force establish Foundation for broad collaboration

Trump tech war with China changes the game for US business

TECH SPACE
Space Force to start flying on reused SpaceX rockets

Powerful Delta Heavy rocket ready for another launch attempt from Florida

Rocket Lab to launch commercial rideshares mission for Planet, Canon

Blue Origin postpones Texas launch of experiments for NASA, universities

TECH SPACE
Could life exist deep underground on Mars

NASA's New Mars Rover Is Ready for Space Lasers

China's Mars probe completes second orbital correction

Perseverance will use x-rays to hunt fossils

TECH SPACE
NASA chief warns Congress about Chinese space station

China's new carrier rocket available for public view

China sends nine satellites into orbit by sea launch

Chinese spacecraft launched mystery object into space before returning to Earth

TECH SPACE
Redcliffe Partners' Ukrainian Space Regulation Review

Machine-learning nanosats to inform global trade

SpaceX postpones Starlink launch as thick clouds persist

ESA brings space industry together online

TECH SPACE
How intense and dangerous is cosmic radiation on the Moon

Satcom to foster resilient digital systems

Squeezed light makes Virgo's mirrors jitter

Radiation levels on Moon 2.6 times greater than ISS: study

TECH SPACE
CHEOPS space telescope makes ultra-precise temperature and size measurements of an unusual giant planet

Evolution of radio-resistance is more complicated than previously thought

Water on exoplanet cloud tops could be found with hi-tech instrumentation

Let them eat rocks

TECH SPACE
SwRI study describes discovery of close binary trans-Neptunian object

JPL meets unique challenge, delivers radar hardware for Jupiter Mission

Astronomers characterize Uranian moons using new imaging analysis

Jupiter's moons could be warming each other









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.