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 of RP-1 fuel, highly refined kerosene, into the rocket for Tuesday’s flight.

The room-temperature RP-1 fuel will power the main engine during the initial phase of the GOES-T launch. Fueling of the rocket with cryogenic liquid oxygen to the main stage and liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to Centaur occurs during the final two hours of the countdown.

Atlas V will launch NOAA’s GOES-T satellite into an elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit approximately 22,000 miles high. Tuesday’s launch window opens at 4:38 p.m. EST (2138 UTC).