Le satellite GOES-T (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-T) de la National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), enfermé dans sa coiffe, est déplacé dans l’installation d’intégration verticale du complexe de lancement spatial 41 de la station spatiale de Cap Canaveral, en Floride, le 17 février 2022. Crédit : NASA/Kim Shiflett
La National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), l’administration nationale des océans et de l’atmosphère, a mis en place un système d’intégration verticale. Satellite géostationnaire opérationnel d’observation de l’environnement -T (GOES-T) Le satellite a maintenant officiellement son tour.
Le satellite GOES-T a été transporté du centre d’opérations spatiales d’Astrotech à Titusville, en Floride, jusqu’au centre d’intégration verticale de United Launch Alliance (ULA) situé à proximité, dans le complexe de lancement spatial 41 de la station spatiale de Cap Canaveral. Il a ensuite été accouplé au sommet de la fusée Atlas V 541, qui le transportera dans l’espace. Le décollage est prévu pour le 1er mars 2022, à 16 h 38.
Le lancement est géré par ;” data-gt-translate-attributes=”[{” attribute=””>NASA’s Launch Services Program based at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center, America’s multi-user spaceport.
After securing GOES-T atop the Atlas V, technicians conducted final validation of the communication paths through the rocket. The spacecraft and launch vehicle were then tested by successfully powering up both into launch mode to ensure they are compatible as a system.
GOES-T had been located inside the Astrotech facility since its arrival to Florida on November 10, 2021. Numerous activities were conducted there, including lifting and mating the spacecraft to the payload adapter, and encapsulation, where the two halves of the ULA payload fairings were brought together and installed around the satellite to protect it during launch. The fully assembled launch vehicle will roll to the launch pad on February 28.
The third satellite in NOAA’s GOES-R series, GOES-T will be delivered into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, separated from the launch vehicle, and then moved up to a higher geostationary orbit and renamed GOES-18. After being checked out, calibrated, and deemed ready for operations, GOES-18 will replace GOES-17 in the GOES-West position, keeping an eye on the U.S. West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean.
The GOES satellite network helps meteorologists observe and predict local weather events that affect public safety, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, fog, hurricanes, flash floods, and other severe weather.
