Contact: Patricia Viets FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOAA/NESDIS 4/26/95
301-457-5005
Allen Kenitzer
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
202-358-2806
George Diller
NASA/Kennedy Space Center
407-867-2468
The second in a series of five advanced U.S. weather satellites is being prepared for launch from Cape Canaveral Air Station on May 19, the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced.
The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, now called GOES-J, will be renamed GOES-9 once achieving orbit. It is currently being processed for launch at a payload processing facility near Cape Canaveral.
With the launch of the latest GOES satellite, one of the most essential elements of the National Weather Service's modernization program will be in place. The data gathered by the GOES satellites, combined with data from the new Doppler radars and the automated surface observing system, will greatly aid forecasters in providing better advance warnings of thunderstorms, flash floods, hurricanes and other severe weather -- which will save lives, preserve property, and benefit agriculture, marine, aviation and commercial interests across the country.
The United States operates two meteorological satellites in geostationary orbit, one over the East Coast and one over the West Coast. GOES-7, which was launched on Feb. 26, 1987, is currently positioned over the West Coast. It is over the Equator at 135 degrees West longitude at an altitude of 22,239 statute miles. GOES-8, launched in April 1994, is currently overlooking the East Coast. It is positioned at 75 degrees West, and is in an operational demonstration. Once GOES-9 is operational, GOES-7 will be placed in standby mode.
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 administers the GOES contract for NASA's Office of Mission to Planet Earth, Washington, D.C., which 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. The NASA Kennedy Space Center is responsible for government oversight of launch operations and countdown activities. GOES-J, built by Space Systems/Loral, will be launched on an Atlas I rocket.
The next three satellites in the GOES series will be launched as required to support NOAA's dual-satellite geostationary observing system.