The Launching of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-O, June 27, 2009

At 6:51 PM today, June 27, 2009, Nasa launched the New Satellite GOES-O today after a scrub yesterday and a slight delay today due to the weather. It finally cleared up enought to go for launch. Read below about the newest technology for this new weather satellite. Pretty impressive.
Artist's concept of GOES-O in orbit











GOES Mission Overview
The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-O represents a continuation of the newest generation of environmental satellites built by Boeing for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the technical guidance and project management of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. GOES satellites provide the familiar weather pictures seen on United States television newscasts every day. The GOES imaging and sounding instruments (built by ITT) feature flexible scans for small-scale area viewing in regions of the visible and infrared spectrum allowing meteorologists to improve short-term forecasts. GOES provides nearly continuous imaging and sounding, which allow forecasters to better measure changes in atmospheric temperature and moisture distributions and hence increase the accuracy of their forecasts. GOES environmental information is used for a host of applications, including weather monitoring and prediction models, ocean temperatures and moisture locations, climate studies, cryosphere (ice, snow, glaciers) detection and extent, land temperatures and crop conditions, and hazards detection. The GOES-O&P Imagers have improved resolution in the 13 micrometer channel from 8 km to 4 km. The finer spatial resolution allows an improved cloud-top product, height of atmospheric motion vectors and volcanic ash detection. GOES-O continues the improved image navigation and registration, additional power and fuel lifetime capability, space weather, solar x-ray imaging, search and rescue, and communication services as provided on GOES-13.

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:01:05 PM EDT
At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the countdown clock is holding at the T-5 minute mark.Although no technical issues are being reported, weather has gone "red" through the beginning of the launch window as reported by NASA's Weather Officer Joel Tumbiolo. The storms are skirting the southern-most portion of the 10-mile limit but are expected to clear out within the GOES-O launch window in time for liftoff.Launch time has been reset to 6:36 p.m. EDT to wait for the storm to move out of the area. Tonight's launch window extends to 7:14 p.m.




















Spacecraft: GOES-O
Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance Delta IV
Launch Location: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Launch Pad: Launch Complex 37
Launch Date: June 27
Launch Window: 6:14 p.m. - 7:14 p.m. EDT

Countdown Hold at T-5 Minutes


Today's GOES-O launch window opens at 6:14 p.m. and extends one hour, to 7:14 p.m. EDT. Forecasters are calling for a 30 percent chance of favorable weather at time of liftoff.

Mission Overview
GOES-O is the latest weather satellite developed by NASA to aid the nation's meteorologists and climate scientists. The acronym stands for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite. The spacecraft in the series provide the familiar weather pictures seen on United States television newscasts every day. The satellites are equipped with a formidable array of sensors and instruments.

GOES provides nearly continuous imaging and sounding, which allows forecasters to better measure changes in atmospheric temperature and moisture distributions, hence increasing the accuracy of their forecasts. GOES environmental information is used for a host of applications, including weather monitoring and prediction models.

Although no technical issues are being reported, weather has gone "red" through the beginning of the launch window as reported by NASA's Weather Officer Joel Tumbiolo. The storms are skirting the southern-most portion of the 10-mile limit but are expected to clear out within the GOES-O launch window in time for liftoff.

Launch time has been reset to 6:51 p.m. EDT to wait for the storm to move out of the area.


Tonight's launch window extends to 7:14 p.m.

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:01:05 GMT
No technical issues are being reported at this time.

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:45:54 GMT
The countdown is proceeding smoothly toward today's launch of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV carrying the GOES-O spacecraft.

Weather Officer Joel Tumbiolo and his team are watching gathering storms to the west of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Although no technical issues are being reported, weather remains a concern for tonight's liftoff.

Launch remains on schedule for 6:14 p.m. EDT -- the beginning of the one-hour launch window.

NASA's Launch Services Program at Kennedy is supporting the launch in an advisory role.

After launch, and once Boeing and NASA have completed an on-orbit checkout of the spacecraft to ensure it is operational, GOES-O will be turned over to NOAA.

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:05:18 GMT
The launch window opens at 6:14 p.m. and extends to 7:14 p.m. EDT.

Forecasters are looking at a 70 percent chance that weather will violate launch constraints for today's lift off, similar to Friday's weather. If that happens the next launch attempt will be scheduled for Monday.

Live coverage is broadcast on NASA TV.

Go to www.nasa.gov/ntv or follow along with NASA's Launch Blog coming to you directly from Kennedy Space Center.

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:17:57 GMT

There's a 30% chance of good weather for the 6:14 p.m. - 7:14 p.m. EDT launch window. There are no engineering issues being worked that would prevent liftoff.
If the launch is postponed again, the current plan is to skip tomorrow's opportunity and try Monday at 6:15 p.m.

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:15:02 GMT
Forecasters are calling for a 40 percent chance of favorable weather on launch day. Tomorrow's launch window opens at 6:14 p.m. and extends to 7:14 p.m. EDT.
Live launch coverage will begin at 4:30 p.m. on NASA TV, and NASA's Launch Blog will provide the GOES-O launch countdown milestones.

Countdown Hold at T-5 Minutes
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:01:05 PM EDT

At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the countdown clock is holding at the T-5 minute mark.

Although no technical issues are being reported, weather has gone "red" through the beginning of the launch window as reported by NASA's Weather Officer Joel Tumbiolo. The storms are skirting the southern-most portion of the 10-mile limit but are expected to clear out within the GOES-O launch window in time for liftoff.

Launch time has been reset to 6:24 p.m. EDT to wait for the storm to move out of the area. Tonight's launch window extends to 7:14 p.m.

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:38:38 GMT
The Delta IV medium-plus on the pad today will call on one RS-68 engine and two GEM-60 solid-fueled boosters. The boosters are 60 inches in diameter and burn a graphite-epoxy fuel and oxidizer mixture.

The boosters will fire for a minute and 34 seconds before falling away. The first-stage engine will continue to burn until the four-minute, 26-second mark. Then it, too, will drop back to Earth. The Delta IV second stage will ignite soon after to continue pushing the GOES-O satellite higher and faster. Like the RS-68, the second stage burns a combination of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen for power.

Launch Blog Ends with GOES-O on its Way
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:37:15 PM EDT

The GOES-O spacecraft is on its way to a point 22,300 miles above Earth following a flawless liftoff and flight into space despite a postponement to let a storm pass by the launch area. Although the NASA Launch Blog is ending, you can continue to follow the status of the GOES-O spacecraft on the NASA Website. Thanks for joining us!

GOES-O's First Task: Orbital Spare
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:30:51 PM EDT

Once it reaches its regular orbit and passes testing, the GOES-O satellite will not be put into immediate use.

The spacecraft will go into storage mode until it is needed. It is built with enough propellant to spend at least two years in storage up in space, then operate for eight years. The GOES-N satellite launched in 2006 is still in storage mode. Both satellites can be called on once in space in case one of the other operational satellites stops working. The GOES-N is expected to move into service at the end of this year.

So, why launch today? Well, it’s simply cheaper to put a satellite into orbit and not use it then it is to keep it inside a pristine storage area on Earth.

Second Stage Cutoff 2
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:18:18 PM EDT

The second stage has turned itself off on schedule. The GOES-O satellite remains bolted to the stage, also as planned. The spacecraft and its second stage will coast for another three hours and 43 minutes before its last ignition to put the GOES-O into its proper transfer orbit.

Second Stage Ignition
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:14:44 PM EDT

The second stage has re-ignited as scheduled. The burn will last about four minutes.

Second Stage Shutdown 1
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:03:44 PM EDT

The second stage has shut off its engine as planned. It will restart in 11 minutes for a burn lasting about four minutes. The engine firings are highly choreographed events designed to progressively increase the GOES-O altitude.

Second Stage Propelling GOES-O
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:00:24 PM EDT

The second stage of the Delta IV will burn for another three minutes before its first shut down. It will be restarted twice in steps to move the GOES-O spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit almost 19,000 miles from the planet at its height, but only 3,500 miles high at its low point. The GOES-O will use its own engine to progressively raise its orbit until it is a circle 22,300 miles above Earth. At that height, the satellite’s speed will match the Earth’s own rotation and the satellite will appear to hover over the same place on Earth.

Payload Fairing Separates
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:57:05 PM EDT

The payload fairing, or nose cone, protecting the GOES-O satellite has split in two and fallen away from the rocket on schedule.

Staging
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:55:50 PM EDT

The RS-68 engine on the first stage has done its job and the first stage is falling away as the second stage takes over to propel the GOES-O satellite into orbit.

Booster Sep
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:53:21 PM EDT

The two solid-fueled boosters have burned out and separated from the Delta IV. All systems working as planned.

Mach 1
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:52:25 PM EDT

The Delta IV has roared through the sound barrier and is picking up speed.

Liftoff!
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:51:11 PM EDT

The Delta IV and its GOES-O satellite payload are lifting off the launch pad and into space! The umbilical arms are moving away from the rocket as it climbs.

T-30 seconds
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:50:47 PM EDT

All conditions are go for launch.

Busy Minutes
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:48:35 PM EDT

As the last moments of the countdown tick away, the Delta IV rocket and GOES-O spacecraft begin to move to internal power and the controls become progressively more automated. T-2 minutes, 30 seconds.

Countdown Resumes at T-5 minutes
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:46:11 PM EDT

The final phase of the countdown is under way. Liftoff remains on schedule to 6:51 p.m.

Readiness Polls Under Way
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:43:07 PM EDT

The launch team reports the Delta IV, the GOES-O spacecraft and the weather are "go" for launch at 6:51 p.m.

Weather Clears, Readiness Polls Begin
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:40:49 PM EDT

Weather conditions are now "go" for launch this evening. The storm that forecasters have been watching has moved farther than 10 miles away from the launch pad. Launch time is 6:51 p.m.

Weather Expected to Clear
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:32:40 PM EDT

Forecasters expect storm-associated conditions to pass by 6:45 p.m. The team needs six minutes to pick up the countdown and then go through the final steps until launch. Liftoff is scheduled for 6:51 p.m.

New Launch Time - 6:51 p.m.
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:04:51 PM EDT

The Delta IV is now scheduled to launch at 6:24 p.m., 10 minutes into the hour-long window available today. Weather concerns forced the change.

Launch Time Reset - 6:36 p.m.
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:20:19 PM EDT

The launch team is rescheduling the launch of the Delta IV for 6:36 p.m. to give more time for the weather to clear. That time can also be moved anytime until 7:14 p.m.

GOES-O’s Tools
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:13:37 PM EDT

To survey the weather and conditions on Earth, GOES-O will employ a suite of cutting-edge instruments. It will take some of the most precise readings in the GOES family by using an imaging radiometer. A sounder is expected to give researchers vast amounts of data about temperatures on the ground and at many levels in the air. The satellite also is equipped with an X-ray telescope to look at the sun and pick up any disturbances that could play a role in Earth’s weather.

Launch is set today for 6:51 p.m., while concerns remain for weather conditions.
Weather Expected to Clear
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:32:40 PM EDT

Forecasters expect storm-associated conditions to pass by 6:45 p.m. The team needs six minutes to pick up the countdown and then go through the final steps until launch. Liftoff is scheduled for 6:51 p.m.

New Launch Time - 6:51 p.m.
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:27:18 PM EDT

The launch team has moved the launch time back to 6:51 p.m. to give unacceptable conditions longer to pass.

Launch Time Reset - 6:36 p.m.
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:20:19 PM EDT

The launch team is rescheduling the launch of the Delta IV for 6:36 p.m. to give more time for the weather to clear. That time can also be moved anytime until 7:14 p.m.

GOES-O’s Tools
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:13:37 PM EDT

To survey the weather and conditions on Earth, GOES-O will employ a suite of cutting-edge instruments. It will take some of the most precise readings in the GOES family by using an imaging radiometer. A sounder is expected to give researchers vast amounts of data about temperatures on the ground and at many levels in the air. The satellite also is equipped with an X-ray telescope to look at the sun and pick up any disturbances that could play a role in Earth’s weather.

Launch is set today for 6:24 p.m., while concerns remain for weather conditions

New Launch Time - 6:24 p.m.
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:04:51 PM EDT

The Delta IV is now scheduled to launch at 6:24 p.m., 10 minutes into the hour-long window available today. Weather concerns forced the change.

Weather Conditions "No-Go"
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:59:18 PM EDT

The weather now violates the acceptable limits, so a launch would not be allowed right now. The red condition was expected and forecasters also think the storm will move quickly out of the way and allow a launch today. The current hold in the countdown can be extended to give the weather more time to clear. The launch team has until 7:14 p.m. to begin the mission.

Countdown Enters Built-in Hold
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:54:09 PM EDT

Clocks have paused as planned at T-5 minutes in the last planned hold of the countdown. Launch remains on schedule for 6:14 p.m. and weather remains the sole concern.

Weather Update
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:38:38 PM EDT

A storm cell that blossomed southwest of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is getting careful consideration from meteorologists since they think it might skirt inside the 10-mile limit, which means a launch would not be allowed until the storm left the area. However, Weather Officer Joel Tumbiolo said the storm should be out of the way around 6:30 p.m., which is well inside the launch window for the GOES-O.

The Delta IV Powerhouse
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:20:50 PM EDT

The Delta IV’s single engine is an RS-68 that was designed in part based on the successful space shuttle main engines. It is the largest hydrogen-fueled engine in the world and generates 17 million horsepower, equivalent roughly to the thrust of 10 747 airliners at takeoff. The RS-68 uses the same mixture of cryogenic propellants as the three engines on an orbiter. A single engine produces about 650,000 pounds of thrust compared to a single shuttle main engine’s top power of 470,000 pounds.

The Delta IV medium-plus on the pad today will call on one RS-68 engine and two GEM-60 solid-fueled boosters. The boosters are 60 inches in diameter and burn a graphite-epoxy fuel and oxidizer mixture.

The boosters will fire for a minute and 34 seconds before falling away. The first-stage engine will continue to burn until the four-minute, 26-second mark. Then it, too, will drop back to Earth. The Delta IV second stage will ignite soon after to continue pushing the GOES-O satellite higher and faster. Like the RS-68, the second stage burns a combination of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen for power.

Engine Steering Tests Under Way
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:16:45 PM EDT

Launch controllers are remotely moving the nozzles on the first and second stages of the Delta IV to make sure they are ready to steer the GOES-O spacecraft into its proper orbit during launch. Everything is working as it should.

Launch Conditions "Go" Now
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:14:10 PM EDT

Weather conditions are acceptable for the launch of the GOES-O spacecraft, although there is still an hour to go before the launch window opens at 6:14 p.m. Forecasters are evaluating a storm to the west near Tampa to determine whether it is likely to threaten today's launch attempt.

Mission: Weather
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:06:32 PM EDT

The GOES-O satellite is destined for an orbital perch 22,300 miles above Earth. From that vantage point, it will keep an unblinking eye on the eastern United States and the Atlantic Ocean. It will survey developing storms and offer weather forecasters the latest data to help them prepare warnings. It also carries instruments to relay distress calls from sailors, pilots and others in need.

Fueling Complete
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:49:05 PM EDT

The two stages of the Delta IV rocket are loaded with cryogenic propellants for flight. The first stage carries 110,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and 40,000 gallons of liquid oxygen. To remain as liquids, the propellants are kept supercold: minus 423 degrees for the liquid hydrogen and minus 297 degrees for the liquid oxygen. The engines have complex processes to heat the propellants into gases and mix them together to create the thrust for liftoff and flight. The second stage also uses the same chemicals, but in much smaller quantities. The second stage holds 4,500 gallons of liquid oxygen and 10,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen. The rocket stages can hold more propellants when they are liquid than when they are gases. That means the engines can burn longer. Pumps at the launch complex will slowly replace the amount of propellants that boil away during the countdown.

On Watch for Weather
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:40:23 PM EDT

Weather Officer Joel Tumbiolo is again in the spotlight today since it is his job to appraise conditions during the countdown and, if they are not acceptable, to forecast whether they will be at some point during the launch window. He and his team are watching storms to the west of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. They have numerous instruments to help them out, including a lightning early warning system of "field mills." They also have satellite images and radar returns to evaluate before launch. Liftoff remains on schedule for 6:14 p.m.

Good Afternoon from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station!
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:30:24 PM EDT

Thanks for joining NASA's Launch Blog today for the second attempt to launch the GOES-O satellite aboard a Delta IV rocket. Yesterday's try was postponed because of poor weather and today's forecast is pretty much a copy of that. The forecast calls for a 30 percent chance of acceptable conditions. The launch team is moving ahead methodically toward a liftoff at 6:14 p.m. and engineers are not working any technical problems with the rocket or its advanced weather satellite payload. The window extends until 7:14 p.m. today. We're in place at the Mission Director's Center at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and we'll take you through the final phases of the countdown and share the milestones as they develop.

Blog to Begin at 4:30 p.m. Today
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:59:04 PM EDT

NASA's Launch Blog returns today at 4:30 p.m. for the second attempt to launch the GOES-O weather satellite. The forecast is the same as Friday, with meteorologists calling for a 30 percent chance of acceptable conditions. The window is 6:14 p.m. to 7:14 p.m.