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Early handover of GOES-N weather satellite to NASA BOEING NEWS RELEASE Posted: June 22, 2006
Following its launch last month on a Boeing Delta IV rocket, the advanced satellite successfully completed orbit-raising and key on-orbit operations such as spacecraft initialization and checkout. Boeing completed this key milestone, known as "engineering handover," two days ahead of schedule. "GOES-N has performed exceptionally well following a perfect launch last month, which has allowed us to achieve this milestone ahead of schedule," said Stephen T. O'Neill, president of Boeing Satellite Systems International, Inc. "GOES-N stands ready as the most advanced weather satellite ever built, and I am pleased to hand over the keys for this new satellite to NASA and NOAA." NASA now is operating the GOES-N spacecraft and conducting a six-month post-launch test program from the NOAA Satellite Operations Control Center in Suitland, Md. Boeing will advise NASA and NOAA engineers during the test program. After the program concludes, NASA will deliver GOES-N to NOAA for all future operations. On June 4, after GOES-N achieved geosynchronous orbit, NOAA renamed the spacecraft "GOES 13." Designed and manufactured at Boeing's Satellite Development Center in El Segundo, Calif., the GOES-N series spacecraft are based on the popular three-axis Boeing 601 model satellite. The spacecraft's technology should improve image accuracy by a factor of four using a more stable instrument platform and a precise geosynchronous stellar inertial attitude determination and control system. The GOES-N satellite's capabilities should support more accurate prediction and tracking of severe storms and other weather phenomena, resulting in earlier and more precise warnings to the public. GOES-N will support NOAA and NASA scientists collecting and analyzing real-time environmental data as well as rescuers responding to calls for help through a communication subsystem that includes a search and rescue capability to detect distress signals from land, sea and air. Boeing's 40 years of knowledge and experience in weather and Earth observation space systems underpins the next-generation environmental system in support of NOAA's strategic mission: To understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our nation's economic, social, and environmental needs. Boeing has completed the GOES-O satellite, which is currently in storage awaiting launch. The GOES-P satellite is undergoing final assembly and space environmental testing and is scheduled for completion within the next several months. |
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The Boeing Delta 4 rocket launches from pad 37B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station with the GOES-N spacecraft, beginning a new era in weather observing for the Americas.
Tony Ceccacci, the lead shuttle flight director for STS-121, provides a highly informative day-by-day preview of Discovery's mission using animation and other presentations. Then Rick LaBrode, the lead International Space Station flight director during STS-121, explains all of the activities occurring onboard and outside the outpost while Discovery visits.
Discovery's STS-121 mission to the International Space Station will feature two scheduled spacewalks and perhaps a third if consumables permit. Spacewalkers Mike Fossum and Piers Sellers will test whether the 50-foot inspection boom carried on the shuttle could be used as a work platform for repairing the heatshield and conduct maintenance chores outside the space station. Tomas Gonzalez-Torres, the mission's lead spacewalk officer, details all the three EVAs in this pre-flight news briefing.
A comprehensive series of press briefings for space shuttle Discovery's upcoming STS-121 begins with a program overview conference by Wayne Hale, NASA's manager of the shuttle program, and Kirk Shireman, the deputy program manager of the International Space Station. The two men discuss the significance of Discovery's mission to their respective programs. The briefing was held June 8 at the Johnson Space Center.
NASA officials unveil the plan to distribute work in the Constellation Program for robotic and human moon and Mars exploration. This address to agency employees on June 5 was given by Administrator Mike Griffin, Associate Administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Scott Horowitz and Constellation Program Manager Jeff Hanley.
Following their announcement on the Exploration work assignments to the various NASA centers, Mike Griffin, Scott Horowitz and Jeff Hanley hold this news conference to answer reporter questions.