T-4 Minutes and Counting

The ULA Atlas V rocket with NOAA's GOES-S satellite is ready for liftoff.
The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket stands ready for liftoff with NOAA’s GOES-S satellite on Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Photo credit: NASA

The GOES-S countdown is underway toward a liftoff at 5:02 p.m. EST. During the last four minutes of the countdown, the Atlas and Centaur propellant tanks will be brought up to flight pressure, the rocket and spacecraft will be confirmed on internal power, and the Eastern Range and launch managers will perform final status checks. A computerized autosequencer will take over the countdown in order to conduct a host of activities in precise order.