Engine Chill Complete, Countdown to GOES-U Mission Launch Continues

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) stands vertical at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) stands vertical at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Photo credit: NASA Television

Behind the iconic countdown clock at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site, a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) stands vertical at Launch Complex 39A at the spaceport in Florida on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Photo credit: NASA TelevisionCountdown to the 5:26 p.m. EDT liftoff of the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida continues as planned.

Moments ago, the “engine chill” process of conditioning the 27 main Merlin engines on the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket got underway.

This conditioning process helps the engines avoid cold shock when the super-chilled liquid oxygen flows during launch.

Follow the GOES-U blog for mission milestones or watch NASA’s live coverage on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website.

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