Article Posted on : - Feb 25, 2010

NASA's GOES-P meteorological satellite. A NASA Photo by Jack Pfaller.

WASHINGTON (BNS): NASA is all prepared to launch the NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-P (GOES-P) aboard a Delta IV rocket which will be launched by United Launch Alliance for Boeing Launch Services.

According to NASA, the spacecraft will be launched from Space Launch Complex 37 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The launch is targeted for March 2, during a launch window from 6:19 to 7:19 p.m. EST (3rd March, 04:49 to 05:49 a.m IST).

GOES-P represents the newest generation of environmental satellites built by Boeing for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the technical guidance and project management of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

"GOES are the backbone of NOAA's severe weather forecasts, monitoring fast-changing conditions in the atmosphere that spawn hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and other hazards," said Steve Kirkner, GOES programme manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, according to the report.

The GOES satellites provide observations of more than 50% of the Earth including environmental information and severe weather warnings.

GOES-P is the third and final spacecraft to be launched in the GOES N Series of geostationary environmental weather satellites. Other than forecasting weather on Earth GOES-P with the help of the Solar X-Ray Imager (SXI) will continuously monitor solar conditions.

GOES-P once in orbit will be designated as GOES-15 and will thus provide timely environmental information to meteorologists and the public, as per the report.