* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: GOES-13

Blobrana · L

-- Edited by Blobrana at 19:55, 2006-05-24

Blobrana · L

Credit: Carleton Bailie/The Boeing Company

Blobrana · L

Forecast for Wednesday, May 24 by the 45th Weather Squadron.

"Main issues for today will be the cloud thickness (greater than 4,500 feet) of the mid and upper level cloudiness advecting across the Florida Peninsula. In addition to cloud thickness, any thunderstorms that may develop could result in thunderstorm anvil clouds moving over the area as well. The other main concern continues to be winds greater than 15 knots during the last 5 minutes of the countdown. Vehicle exposure concerns continue to be to be low but will be monitored closely."

Clouds: Cumulus Scattered at 3,000 feet with tops at 8,000 feet; Altocumulus Broken at 10,000 feet with tops at 14,000 feet; and Cirrus Broken at 20,000 feet with tops at 22,000 feet
Visibility: 10 miles
Launch Pad Winds: East-Southeasterly from 100 degrees at 8 to 14 knots
Temperature: 82-84 degrees F

Blobrana · L

US Air Force meteorologists are predicting a 70 percent chance of acceptable weather conditions for the Boeing Delta 4 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral.

"An overall weak upper level and surface pattern will be the dominant synoptic setup over the next several days. Warm and dry conditions are expected through most of the next week. Surface ridge axis will be south of the area resulting in light westerly flow in the morning and a sea breeze in the afternoon. Deep tropical moisture will be confined to south Florida. Conditions will be monitored for any moisture that may be trapped from the south.
On launch day, if moisture levels are sufficient, isolated afternoon thunderstorms are possible. Main concerns during the launch window will be for clouds within 10 nautical miles that are associated with any isolated thunderstorms that may develop, and also for 54-foot level winds greater than 14 knots that are associated with the afternoon sea breeze."

Blobrana · L

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-N (GOES-N) to be launched into orbit for NASA aboard a Boeing Delta IV rocket will be the focus of a prelaunch press conference at the NASA Kennedy Space Centre Press Site.

NASA Television will carry the prelaunch press conference beginning at 17:00 GMT (1 p.m. EDT) on Tuesday, May 23.

Blobrana · L

NASA has announced the launch date for a weather satellite that will provide timely environmental information to meteorologists and the public.

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-N, known as GOES-N, will launch Wednesday, May 24, from Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, US.
The launch window is from 22:11 to 23:11 GMT (6:11 to 7:11 p.m. EDT).
NASA TV will carry the launch live.

Blobrana · L

RE: GOES-N

Blobrana · L

A Boeing Delta 4 rocket will launch the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite N, (GOES N), for NASA and NOAA, at 22:14-23:14 GMT (6:14-7:14 p.m. EDT), May 20th, from the SLC-37B launchpad, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

The weather satellite will orbit at an altitude of 35,888 kilometres to monitor conditions across the U.S. The GOES N spacecraft is the first in a new series of weather satellites built by Boeing. The rocket will fly in the Medium+ (4,2) configuration with two solid rocket boosters.
Delayed from December 1, January, March, April and May 4.

Blobrana · L

The GOES-N weather satellite launch was scrubbed 4 minutes before lift-off because of a battery voltage alarm in the vehicle's second stage.
The batteries used by the rocket's self-destruct system had expired and needed to be replaced. The system allows the rocket to transmit its location and other data to ground stations.

Mission managers have delayed the launch for an extended period until no earlier than October 8 to avoid having the satellite undergoing on-orbit checking during the "eclipse season" around the equinox, when the satellite passes through the Earth's shadow.
The spacecraft's solar panels would be hidden from the sun during the early part of the mission if it were launched before then.