NASA, NOAA Ready GOES-P Satellite for March 3 Launch

NASA, NOAA Ready GOES-P Satellite for March 3 Launch

NASA is preparing to launch the NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-P (GOES-P) on March 3 during a launch window from 6:18 to 7:18 p.m. EST from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-P, or GOES-P, is the latest in a series of meteorological satellites designed to watch for storm development and weather conditions on Earth. From its location in Earth orbit, GOES-P's state-of-the-art instrumentation will supply data used in weather monitoring, forecasting and warnings. It also will detect ocean and land temperatures, monitor space weather, relay communications and provide search-and-rescue support.

The satellite will be launched aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV vehicle from Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

GOES-P, to be launched for NASA and NOAA, is a United Launch Alliance commercial launch for Boeing Launch Services under a Federal Aviation Administration license.

During close out procedures on the vehicle Friday, mission managers determined that a steering control valve on one of the solid rocket motors required removal and replacement. This additional work, in addition to the normal processing timeline, requires the launch to move one day.

The Flight Readiness Review for the launch of the Delta IV rocket with GOES-P was held on Feb. 25. The last evaluation, the Launch Readiness Review, will be held on March 2.

At Launch Complex 37, closeouts of the Delta IV and GOES-P are beginning. A launch countdown mission dress rehearsal was successfully completed Friday.

On launch day, the mobile service tower will be retracted away from the Delta IV at 7:30 a.m. The terminal countdown will begin when the countdown clock emerges from a planned built-in hold at 1 p.m.

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