NASA launched the latest in an advanced series of weather satellites, the GOES-T, from Florida on Tuesday to improve weather forecasting over the Pacific and western United States.

United Launch Alliance's Atlas V lifted off as planned into a mostly sunny sky at 4:38 p.m. EST from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Meteorologists around the world are looking forward to better data from the newest weather satellite, which will feed data to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other U.S. agencies.

"I can't wait for the new GOES-18 data to arrive," Tim Schmidt, a NOAA research satellite meteorologist based in Wisconsin, told UPI in an email.

After reaching space, the GOES-T becomes officially known as GOES-18. It will be positioned over the Pacific about 22,236 miles high, where it will scan weather patterns for Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Central America and western states.

"This is the third in this new advanced series," Schmidt said. "The instruments are similar to previous spacecraft, but this will help provide the continuity of observations that we all need."

The GOES series of satellites have improved forecasting by providing updated images and data of storms, for example, in as little as five minutes rather than every 15 to 30 minutes

One notable feature, he said, is the satellite's ability to monitor most of the Western hemisphere at a large scale, while still being able to hone in on regional phenomena like wildfires, storms and volcanoes.

Such capability will allow forecasters to make better long-term and short-term forecasts, he said.

The Atlas V rocket will fly in its 541 configuration, which means it has ULA's largest fairing, four boosters attached and a single upper stage, the launch service provider said.

The rocket packs about 30 million horsepower, or 2.25 million pounds of thrust, upon liftoff, ULA CEO Tory Bruno said in a video about the launch.

"This is a cool mission," Bruno said. "These GOES satellites improve our ability to predict flash floods, lightning storms, tornadoes in almost real-time monitoring of hurricane tracks and, of course, even climate change."

Source: United Press International

Related Links
GOES-T Launch Blog
Earth Observation News - Suppiliers, Technology and Application

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Spire Global awarded NOAA contract to deliver satellite weather data
Vienna VA (SPX) Feb 11, 2022
Spire Global, Inc. (NYSE: SPIR), a leading global provider of space-based data, analytics, and space services, hasS announced that it has been awarded as part of Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Delivery Order 4 of the contract issued by the National Oceanographic and Oceanic Administration (NOAA), for commercially available space-based radio occultation (RO) data for use in operational weather forecasts. The award, valued at over $8 million, represents the single largest U.S. government p ... read more