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United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NASA/NOAA Weather Satellite

Written by thomas · Filed Under Aeronautics News 

June 30, 2009

thomas

CAPE CANAVERAL AFS, Fla., June 28 /PRNewswire/ — United Launch Alliance, on behalf of Boeing Launch Services, successfully launched the second of three next-generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The satellite, designated GOES-O, was launched aboard a Delta IV expendable launch vehicle from Space Launch Complex-37, Saturday, at 6:51 p.m., EDT. The first GOES satellite in the series, designated GOES-N, was launched here on May 24, 2006. This was the 8th ULA launch of 2009.

Following a nominal four hour, 21-minute flight, the Delta IV deployed the spacecraft. The multi-mission GOES series of satellites will provide NOAA and NASA scientists with data to support weather, solar and space operations, and will enable future science improvements in weather prediction and remote sensing. Additionally, GOES-O will provide data on global climate changes and capability for search and rescue.

“ULA congratulates Boeing and its NASA and NOAA customers for the successful launch of GOES-O, which will improve weather forecasting across the globe,” said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, Delta Product Line. “Millions of people a year are adversely affected by weather ranging from localized thunderstorms to tornados and hurricanes. GOES-O will significantly improve the data collection scientists need to learn more about our planet’s weather and will better prepare people all over the world for significant weather events.”

The Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) configuration launch vehicle used a single common booster core with a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-68 main engine, two Alliant Techsystems GEM 60 solid rocket motors, a PWR RL10B-2 upper stage engine and a four-meter diameter upper stage and composite payload fairing. The GOES-O launch marked the fourth flight of the Delta IV medium+ (4,2) configuration and the 10th flight of the Delta IV family of launch vehicles.

ULA’s next launch, currently scheduled for no earlier than Aug. 12, is the PAN mission for the Department of Defense aboard an Atlas V from Space Launch Complex-41 at CCAFS.

ULA program management, engineering, test and mission support functions are headquartered in Denver, Colo. Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are located at Denver, Colo.; Decatur, Ala.; Harlingen, Texas; and San Diego, Calif. Launch operations are located at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

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