NOAA’s GOES-U Satellite to Launch Aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy Rocket in June
NOAA’s GOES-R series constellation nears completion with the upcoming launch of its GOES-U satellite on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket. This marks a shift from ULA’s Atlas V 541 rocket, with SpaceX winning the bid for this mission. Falcon Heavy’s cost-effectiveness and performance criteria were key factors in NOAA’s decision, as it prepares for this historic launch.
NASA and SpaceX Announce New Launch Date for GOES-U Satellite
NASA and SpaceX have announced a new launch date for the GOES-U satellite, the fourth and final satellite in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) – R Series. The launch is now scheduled for Tuesday, June 25, following the identification of a liquid oxygen leak during routine testing in February, which required repairs and testing of the Falcon Heavy core booster. The GOES-R Series Program, overseen by NOAA, is managed through an integrated NOAA-NASA office, with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center handling the acquisition of the spacecraft and instruments.