GOES-O STATUS
last update 20 March 2006
Spacecraft
In the spring of 2004, the GOES-O spacecraft was under construction, and went through thermal-vac testing in the spring of 2005.
As of mid-2005, it is in pre-launch storage at Boeing Space Systems (BSS).
As of March 2006, the GOES-O launch date is planned for 7 July 2007.
Imager
Imager SN09 was constructed and tested at ITT in Fort Wayne, Indiana in the late 1990's.
It was delivered to Boeing Space Systems (BSS) and integrated onto GOES-O in 2003/4.
There are no significant issues with the Imager.
Sounder
Sounder SN09 was constructed and tested at ITT in Fort Wayne, Indiana in the late 1990's.
It was delivered to Boeing Space Systems (BSS) and integrated onto GOES-O in 2003/4.
There are no significant issues with the Sounder.
Launch
GOES-O will be launched on a Delta IV with two solids to nearly direct injection to geo-orbit. The use of the main rocket to get to orbit will save fuel on the spacecraft, and achieve at least 10 years of fuel lifetime (5 years of on orbit storage, and 5 years of operations).
If GOES-O were stored on the earth, it would have to be to be called out of storage to replace an on-orbit failure. There would be 9 to 12 months of preparation between call-up and launch, followed by 3 months of post-launch deployment and testing before it could become operational. On-orbit storage reduces this delay to less than a week, and avoids the chance of a launch failure when you can least afford it.
Orbit Raising History
TBD
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES:
TBD
GOES Project Science and Images
