SpaceX launches NOAA GOES-U mission

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launched the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) GOES-U mission into geostationary orbit on Tuesday from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The GOES-U satellite will orbit Earth’s equator at an altitude of approximately 35,700 kilometers, observing weather patterns in the United States, Central and South America, and the Atlantic Ocean.

GOES-U is part of NOAA’s most sophisticated series of geostationary environmental observation satellites (GOES). and will assist forecasters and climate researchers with real-time, high-resolution imagery, early detection of potentially life-threatening severe weather, and tropical cyclone forecasts.

The weather satellite is also equipped with a suite of space weather instruments. which will be used to detect solar storms early and help predict their possible consequences.

This was the first launch of Falcon Heavy’s two side boosters. After the booster rocket separated, the boosters successfully landed in SpaceX’s Landing Zones 1 and 2 (LZ-1 and LZ-2) at the station.

How fourth and final satellite in NOAA’s GOES-R series.GOES-U will enhance the ability of meteorologists to provide enhanced weather forecasting and warning capabilities. GOES-U will also improve detection and monitoring of space weather hazards using a new compact coronagraph.