News

Atlas V to Launch GOES-S

Atlas V GOES-S Mission Overview
Goess Rocket launch

  • Rocket: Atlas V 541

  • Mission: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-S (GOES-S)

  • Launch Date: Thursday, March 1, 2018

  • Launch Time: The 2-hour launch window opens at 5:02 p.m. EST

  • Live Broadcast: Tune in live on March 1 beginning at 4:30 p.m. EST

  • Launch Location: Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Mission Description:  GOES-S is the second of four satellites to be launched for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in a new and advanced series of spacecraft. Once in geostationary orbit, it will be known as GOES-17. Like the other satellites in the series, GOES-S carries a suite of sophisticated Earth-sensing, lightning-detecting, solar imaging and space weather monitoring instruments. The advanced technology on board GOES-S will provide critical data and imagery in near-real time on severe weather events such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes and flash floods, as well as hazards like fog, aerosols, dust storms, volcanic eruptions and forest fires.

Launch Notes: ULA and our heritage rockets have launched all of the operational GOES satellites, including GOES-R in November 2016. GOES-S marks the sixth Atlas V to launch in the 541 configuration, the first of which was the rocket that launched NASA's Curiosity rover to Mars in 2011.

Launch Updates:To keep up to speed with updates to the launch countdown, dial the ULA launch hotline at 1-877-852-4321 or join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunchtwitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch; hashtags #AtlasV, #GOESS and #GOES17.

Go Atlas! Go Centaur! Go GOES-S!