GOES-T, soon to be GOES-18, was successfully launched on March 1, 2022, at 4:38 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida aboard an Atlas V 541 rocket. It was United Launch Alliance’s 149th mission, the 38th for Launch Services Program, and the 92nd launch of Atlas V. The Atlas […]

GOES-T on the Launchpad After Rollout GOES-T was rolled out to the launchpad from the ULA Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) on Feb. 28, 2022. Photos by United Launch Alliance Atlas RP-1 Loading Begins Fueling of the Atlas V first stage is underway at Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex-41. The launch team is pumping 25,000 gallons […]

ATLAS V TO LAUNCH GOES-T Atlas V GOES-T Mission Profile A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 541 rocket passed the Launch Readiness Review on Feb 26th, and will launch Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) –T mission for NOAA, NASA and NASA’s Launch Services Program (LSP). The launch is planned for March 1st from Space […]

G’Day Mate – GOES-T Mated to Atlas-V Thursday and Friday, February 17 and 18 marked the transport from the Aerotech Building to the Verticle Launch Assembly platform of NOAA’s GOES-T spacecraft. GOES-T was transported to the VLA aboard United Launch Alliance’s 72 wheeled spacecraft transporter. The spacecraft, encapsulated in the rocket’s 17.7-foot (5.4-meter) out-of-autoclave (OoA) […]

MISSION OVERVIEW A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 541 rocket will deliver the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-T spacecraft to an optimized geosynchronous transfer orbit. The optimized orbit places GOES-T closer to its final destination thereby conserving the satellite’s fuel supply for longer mission life. The mission is conducted in collaboration with […]

Payload Encapsulation The United Launch Alliance Atlas V payload fairings are being secured around NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-T (GOES-T) inside the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Florida. The payload fairing (PLF) provides a controlled, safe environment for spacecraft during ascent. This will be the last view of GOES-T here on earth! Photo credit: […]

Atlas V 541 rocket Assembly United Launch Alliance (ULA) technicians have assembled the Atlas V 541 rocket to launch the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-T spacecraft. Assembly of the rocket, designated AV-095, began on Jan. 31, 2022, The 107-foot (33-meter) long first stage was delivered to the VIF, hoisted […]

Preparing GOES-T for Encapsulation February 4, 2022. At Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Florida, technicians are now moving NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-T (GOES-T). The spacecraft is being prepared for encapsulation inside its protective payload fairings.  Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett GOES-T is scheduled to launch on March 1, 2022, atop a United Launch Alliance […]

Rocket Stacking underway for GOES-T United Launch Alliance, has started stacking the Atlas 5 that will launch GOES-T. The spacecraft, encapsulated within its five-meter payload fairing, is scheduled to be installed on the rocket Feb. 15 for final tests before rollout and launch. The four GEM 63 solid rocket boosters and the Centaur upper stage […]