Delta IV launches GOES-P weather satellite

A ULA Delta IV launches tonight with the GOES-P (KSC)

(Updated at 11:20 pm) -- A next generation weather satellite was carried into space today to begin a decade long mission to study both the weather in the America's and in the vacuum of space.

The GOES-P high resolution weather satellite arrived successfully in orbit following a beautiful night launch.

The satellite will begin to photograph and study the weather for North America, and have an eye trained back at the Sun as it understands the effects of solar activity here on earth.

GOES-P will also serve to help locate and track distress signals from boaters and aircraft. The signals will give the Coast Guard a more accurate location to quicken the emergency response time.

Lift-off of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket occurred following a 40 minute delay tonight at 6:57:00 pm EST (2357 GMT), from launch pad 37 here at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

As the countdown was in a normal planned hold at T-5 minutes, several alarms lite the launch team's consoles. Those alarms then forced a delay in restarting the count.

That delay then saw the upper level winds go red, meaning that the wind's speeds of nearly 160 mph were to fast to allow the Delta to fly through up at the Jet Stream.

Residents along Florida's Atlantic coastline were able to enjoy an early evening launch as the flames of two rocket boosters and a main core engine carried the rocket due east on a 95 degree launch azimuth.

The 4800-pound spacecraft measures nearly 27 feet in length -- from solar panel to solar panel -- as it operates in a geostationary orbit of 22,300 miles above.

The Boeing 601 GOES-P spacecraft was then released on it's own at 11:18:26 pm tonight, as it soared 17,813 nautical miles over southern Singapore.

Tonight, the NOAA Satellite and Information Service said, "We should have the first image around April 1".

The next NOAA weather satellite will be the GOES-R, now planned for launch no earlier than 2015.

Delta IV fueled for Today's Sunset Launch

A Delta IV rocket stands ready to carry a high definition weather satellite into orbit tonight from America's Space Coast.

Lift-off remains targeted for 6:17 pm EST (2317 GMT) today from launch complex 37 here at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

(For a complete rundown on the flight click here.)

Fueling of the main stage tank has begun and technicians are looking for any leaks between the ground and the vehicle.

Launch Weather Officer Joel Tumbiolo of the 45th Weather Squadron here at Cape is forecasting a 95% chance of favorable weather at launch time.

Weather at the pad is clear skies and a temperature of 53 degrees F. This spacecraft will be an important addition to the GOES family of weather satellites.

GOES-P is the third of the current series of high resolution imaging satellites. GOES-P will also investigate and alert weather stations here on earth of recent solar flares which create solar weather.

This weather satellite will become an on orbit spare for several months.

Delta IV primed to launch new weather satellite

A new American weather satellite is ready to begin a decade long mission next week to photograph and study our planet and the effects solar weather has upon our big blue marble.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA are responsible for the GOES-P meteorological satellite which will be used to take high resolution detailed images of the planet's weather systems, and use computer generated data to make a more accurate forecast on expected weather trends.

Launch of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV is set for Wednesday, March 3 at 6:17pm EST (2317 GMT) -- the beginning of a one hour launch window -- from space launch complex 37-B here at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Lift-off was targeted for two days earlier, however a flight readiness meeting on Feb. 26th pointed out the need to replace a solid rocket motor's steering control valve. And, on Monday, the ground crew needed extra time to replace a quick disconnect valve in a fuel line.

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite -P will make observations of 60% of the earth's surface, including all of the western hemisphere from it's perch 22,300 miles above the equator.

Among the several instruments on board the GOES P is the Solar X-ray Imager. The SXI is an x-ray telescope which will monitor solar activity and it's effects on earth. The telescope will take a detailed image of the Sun each minute for analysis. This will help in early detection of huge solar flares which can interfere with radio and television broadcasts.

The Space Environment Monitor is a multi-instrument space weather detection device on the weather satellite, and will assist in special space weather forecasts for astronauts on the International Space Station and high altitude aircraft and jets.

This latest GOES satellite arrived at the Kennedy Space Center, touching down aboard a military cargo craft from it's manufacturing plant in California on December 17th.

The payload was then transferred west across the Indian River into Titusville and the AstroTech Facility for prelaunch preparations.

At launch, the Delta IV's main stage RS-68 engine will ignite followed by its twin solid fueled boosters as the spacecraft begins it's trip to orbit.

Launching in a flight azimuth of 95 degrees, the Delta IV will travel toward the east-southeast away from the Cape.

Following an on time launch, the twin boosters will burn out and then separate from the core booster at 6:20:40 pm, as it travels 17 miles above the coral waters 13 miles off Florida's coastline.

Spacecraft separation is planned for 10:40:26 pm later that evening.

In June 2009,the GOES-O launched from Cape Canaveral aboard a Delta IV.

Delta IV Launches GOES-O Satellite for NOAA

A new weather satellite successfully arrived into earth orbit this evening following a beautiful ride aboard a Delta IV rocket from America's space coast.

The United Launch Alliance Delta IV, with its twin boosters, lifted off at 6:51 pm EDT, 37 minutes late due to severe thunderstorms and lightning near it's launch pad here at Cape Canaveral, AFS.

Delta IV to Launch Weather Satellite Today

NASA and the United Launch Alliance will try again this afternoon to get an advanced weather satellite off the ground and into a high earth orbit following a launch scrub last night due to lightning and storms over it's Cape Canaveral launch pad.

Weather is only marginal as the same late afternoon thunderstorms will likely redevelop today prior to the opening of a one hour launch window at 6:14 pm EDT. Forecasters are giving today's liftoff a 40% weather "Go".

The NASA and NOAA GOES-O meteorological satellite will fly aboard a ULA Delta IV (above this morning) from launch complex 37 here at Cape Canaveral AFS.

Storms Delay Weather Satellite Launch

In a bit of irony, the launch of an enhanced, multi-telescope weather satellite was delayed 24 hours this evening due to severe weather at and around its launch pad here at Cape Canaveral.

As the United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket was fueled and proceeded through the countdown with no issues, the heating of the atmosphere over central Florida and the Space Coast saw the development of anvil clouds which can and did produce thunderstorms and lightning.

As the countdown entered the final hold at T-5 minutes at 5:54 pm EDT, the launch team was "red" only for lightning and rain storms within the allowable distance from the pad. And so, the launch team waited out the storms, even setting a new launch time of 6:44 pm when the storms continued to develop. But the launch was not to be and the team scrubbed for the day at 7:00 pm tonight.

So for now, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have rescheduled the launch of the Delta IV for Saturday evening at 6:14 pm EDT. The launch window is one hour.

Thunderstorms are also forecast to develop late afternoon tomorrow, too, and the Air Force Meteorology Group is calling for a 40% "GO" for favorable weather. ULA also stated that if a second launch scrub occurs, then the launch team will stand down on Sunday and try to fly on Monday.

The GOES-O, once launched, will "live" in a parking orbit near the GOES-N satellite as on-orbit spares. With the current two GOES weather satellites delivering detailed images each half hour, their fuel is running low and may only have another year or so of life. When this happens, GOES N & O will replace and begin providing higher detailed images; and use their telescopes to forecast solar flare activities and their effect on the earth. (Images via NASA/KSC)

New Weather Satellite set for Friday Launch

NASA is just one day away from the launch of a Delta IV rocket with an advanced weather satellite a top from America's space coast.

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite O, or GOES 14 when in space, is a multi-telescope and imaging weather satellite designed to study the emitting solar flares from the Sun and how it effects the earth's atmosphere. GOES will act in giving the world an early warning system of possible intense solar flares which can knock out earth bound communications.

Launch from Cape Canaveral AFS's launch complex 37 is planned for tomorrow evening, June 26, at the opening of a one-hour launch window which begins at 6:14 pm EDT.

The Cape Canaveral Air Force Meteorology group state only a 70% favorable weather forecast at launch time due to late afternoon summer thunderstorms around central Florida.

Later today at 1PM EDT, a NOAA & NASA news conference will be held at the Cape to discuss the GOES-O launch and mission. SpaceLaunchNews.com will cover both the conference today and the launch on Friday, beginning at 4PM, LIVE.

Once in space, GOES O will become GOES-14, and will undergo an operational test period of six months prior to being placed in storage until one of the two older GOES satellites fails. Please read our stories below for more details on the mission.

At T minus one day, eight hours 50 minutes until launch, this is spacelaunchnews.com.

SLN Video: GOES 13 (O) Prepare for Launch

Watch how NASA & NOAA prepares for June 26th launch.

NASA to Launch Improved Weather Satellite

A new enhanced weather satellite is just days away from launch, and once aloft will greatly improve the forecasting of earth's weather, climate changes and how solar energy effects our planets atmosphere.

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, or GOES-O, is the second of three meteorological satellites built for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and ran by NASA, will feature a high quality imager and two new telescopes for measuring X-ray

According to NASA, GOES-O "will add to the global community of knowledge, embracing many civil and government environmental forecasting organizations that work to benefit people everywhere and help save lives".

Launch of the GOES-O weather satellite aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV is set for this Friday afternoon, June 26. The launch will take place from complex 37 here at Cape Canaveral, AFS, at the opening of a launch window which runs from 6:14 pm to 7:14 pm EDT.

(Watch the Launch LIVE via SpaceLaunchNews.com beginning at 5:30 pm EDT.)

Following a six month on orbit check out of the satellite, the GOES-O will be turned over to NOAA, and the "O" will be replaced by the number 14. GOES-14 will be placed into storage until it is needed.

GOES will have a solar x-ray sensor, or XRS, as one of its many weather measuring instruments. The XRS will be used to detect how strong emitting solar flares are as they move toward earth. Solar flares are constantly shooting off the Sun's surface creating a solar energy which can disrupt communications, GPS signals and satellite transmissions around earth.

Another X-ray telescope is the Solar X-Ray Imager, or SXI. The SXI will look over GOES-O's shoulder and back at the Sun as it detects and images solar activity every minute to give earth based communication station's a heads-up for possible solar interference.

GOES-O will work above the western hemisphere at an altitude of 22,233 miles (35,780 km) up. From this fixed point - called geostationary orbit - the satellite will stay at one fixed point above earth as it moves at the same speed as the planet spins.

Currently, the GOES-N, which launched in May 2006, is not in use and instead is on standby mode over the equator ready to replace either the active GOES-K or GOES-M.

Delta 2 Launch Scrubbed at Vandenberg

The launch of a Delta II from Vandenberg, AFB in California was delayed earlier this morning due to an issue and has been rescheduled for Friday morning.

Currently, launch of a Delta II from launch complex 2 at Vandenberg, is set for tomorrow morning at 5:22 am EST (2:22 am PST). The launch window is 10 minutes.

+++ SpaceLaunchNews.com's Up to the Minute will carry LIVE coverage of the launch tomorrow beginning at about 3:30 am EST. Click On our NASA-TV link at top, right column. +++

Once aloft, the Delta II [above, taken yesterday via VAFB] will release NOAA's GOES-N meteorological satellite into a polar orbit above the earth. A "Polar orbit" means a vertical orbit. There it will begin to replace an aging GOES satellite.