The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-N (GOES-N), to be launched into orbit for NASA aboard a Boeing Delta IV rocket later this month, will be the focus of a media opportunity on Thursday, June 2. The event will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla.
The event will include an opportunity to photograph GOES-N and interview project officials from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Boeing Satellite Systems.
GOES-N, which becomes GOES-13 when it reaches orbit, is the first of three new geostationary weather and environmental satellites built for NASA by Boeing Satellite Systems. GOES-N, GOES-O and GOES-P are planned to be launched over the next five years.
GOES-N will feature a highly stable pointing platform, which will improve the performance of the Imager and Sounder that are important instruments for creating daily weather-prediction models and for hurricane forecasting. For NOAA’s National Ocean Service, data from GOES-N will be valuable for oceanographic circulation models and forecasts for U.S. coastal communities.
GOES-N will also provide expanded capability for the space and solar environment-monitoring instruments. Forecasts and warnings for solar disturbances will be enhanced. This will protect investments of billions of dollars by the private sector and the government for assets on the ground and in space.
As with all of NOAA’s geostationary and polar-orbiting weather satellites, GOES-N will also be able to relay distress signals detected from emergency locator beacons on the ground and at sea.
For the media event, procedures for optically sensitive spacecraft must be followed for individuals entering the cleanroom where the spacecraft is being processed. Guidelines for controlled access to the cleanroom have been developed by quality control personnel and will be monitored prior to entering the facility. Cleanroom attire will be furnished. Photographers may be requested to clean cameras or accessories using alcohol wipes which will be provided.
Long pants and closed-toe shoes must be worn — no shorts or skirts. Non-essential equipment, such as camera bags or other carrying cases, should be left outside the cleanroom. No pencils or felt-tipped pens can be permitted inside the cleanroom; only ball-point pens may be used. Due to the sensitivity of the spacecraft’s solar arrays, flash photography will not be allowed. There is adequate metal halide lighting in the facility for photography (white with slight green cast).
On Thursday, June 2 at 1:30 p.m., media may proceed directly to Astrotech located in the Spaceport Florida Industrial Park, 1515 Chaffee Drive, Titusville. Spokespeople available will be:
Marty Davis, GOES Program Manager, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Md.
Tom Wrublewski, GOES-N Series Technical Acquisition Manager NOAA Liaison Office, Goddard Space Flight Center
Steve Seel, Launch Site Integration Manager Boeing Satellite Development Center
The Delta IV rocket, built by Boeing Expendable Launch Systems, is being prepared for launch at Space Launch Complex 37 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The launch is scheduled to occur on Thursday, June 23 at the opening of a 45-minute launch window that occurs between 6:13 – 6:58 p.m. EDT.
Boeing’s GOES-N contract with NASA calls for a “delivery on orbit” and will be a commercial launch under an FAA commercial license. The satellite will be turned over to NASA after a successful checkout has been completed by Boeing Satellite Systems. Approximately 6 months after completion of post-launch testing, the spacecraft will be turned over to NOAA. The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is responsible for designing and developing the spacecraft and its instruments.
