Cape Canaveral, Florida – The final satellite of the next-generation weather constellation is set to launch aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket, marking a milestone in providing continuous coverage of Earth and space weather. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will launch the GOES-U mission on Tuesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The satellite will ride atop the Falcon Heavy rocket, which is embarking on its first launch of the year and tenth launch overall.
The GOES system, known for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, has already been delivering real-time imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth’s Western Hemisphere. It also tracks lightning activity and monitors solar and space weather. The data gathered by the satellite constellation has significantly improved weather forecasting accuracy and offered a better understanding of long-term climate patterns.
The upcoming launch of GOES-U follows previous successful missions of GOES-R, GOES-S, and GOES-T in the years prior. With a new compact coronagraph onboard, GOES-U will focus on imaging the Sun’s outer layer to detect and characterize coronal mass ejections. Through its dual purpose of monitoring weather conditions on Earth and in space, the GOES constellation plays a crucial role in advancing meteorology and space sciences.
Falcon Heavy will carry three new boosters for this launch, with the two side cores set for landings at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Landing Zones 1 and 2. The recycled boosters will be reserved for future flights, demonstrating SpaceX’s commitment to reusability in space exploration. While the side cores are expected to return for landing, the core stage will not be recovered.
The launch of GOES-U represents a significant step forward in advancing our understanding of weather patterns and space events. The continuous coverage provided by the satellite constellation will contribute to more accurate weather forecasts and insights into space weather phenomena. Stay tuned for the live broadcast of the launch on NASA’s website and YouTube channel to witness this exciting moment in space exploration.