spacecraft – Kennedy Space Center

NASA, SpaceX Secure Europa Clipper Ahead of Hurricane

NASA and SpaceX are standing down from the Thursday, Oct. 10, launch attempt of the agency’s Europa Clipper mission due to anticipated hurricane conditions in the area. Hurricane Milton is expected to move from the Gulf of Mexico this week moving east to the Space Coast. High winds and heavy rain are expected in the Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island regions on Florida’s east coast. Launch teams have secured NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft in SpaceX’s hangar at Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of the severe weather, and the center began hurricane preparations Sunday.

“The safety of launch team personnel is our highest priority, and all precautions will be taken to protect the Europa Clipper spacecraft,” said Tim Dunn, senior launch director at NASA’s Launch Services Program.

On Oct. 4, workers transported NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft from the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in the hangar as part of final launch preparations ahead of its journey to Jupiter’s icy moon. While Europa Clipper’s launch period opens Oct. 10, the window provides launch opportunities until Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Once the storm passes, recovery teams will assess the safety of the spaceport before personnel return to work. Then launch teams will assess the launch processing facilities for damage from the storm.

“Once we have the ‘all-clear’ followed by facility assessment and any recovery actions, we will determine the next launch opportunity for this NASA flagship mission,” said Dunn.

Signal Acquired! NOAA GOES-U Weather Satellite Begins Its Science Mission

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

The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) team received telemetry from GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U), indicating the spacecraft is functioning nominally and is power positive. The NOAA GOES-U satellite has now safely deployed, and NOAA has acquired a signal. GOES-U will take about two weeks to reach geostationary orbit. Once there, the satellite will be renamed GOES-19.

NOAA oversees the GOES-R Series Program through an integrated NOAA-NASA office, managing the ground system, operating the satellites, and distributing their data to users worldwide.

On board GOES-U is a suite of seven instruments for collecting advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements, providing real-time mapping of lightning activity, and detecting approaching space weather hazards. Also onboard for the first time is the compact coronagraph that will observe the Sun’s outermost layer, called the corona, for large explosions of plasma that could produce geomagnetic solar storms.

NASA teams will complete an in-orbit checkout of the satellite’s instruments and systems prior to handing it over to NOAA’s Office of Satellite and Product Operations, which will verify the satellite’s science data.

The GOES-U satellite is the last of NOAA’s GOES-R Series satellites, the only system that provides persistent coverage of the Western Hemisphere that enables forecasters to predict, observe, and track local weather events on Earth and in space that affect public safety like thunderstorms, hurricanes, wildfires, and solar storms.

The environmental monitoring satellite constellation is planned to operate into the 2030s.

Looking forward, NOAA is working with NASA to develop the next generation of operational satellites in geostationary orbit, called Geostationary Extended Observations. NASA will manage the development and launch the satellites for NOAA.

For additional information on the GOES-U launch, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-spacex-launch-noaas-latest-weather-satellite

Join the online conversation about the GOES-U mission:

X: @NASA, @NASA_LSP, @NASAKennedy, @NOAASatellites, @NASAGoddard
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NOAA’s GOES-U Weather Satellite Deployment

SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket carries NOAA’s GOES-U satellite to geostationary orbit, about 22,236 miles above Earth, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. — NOAA’s GOES-U satellite separates from SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket on its way to geostationary orbit, about 22,236 miles above Earth, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Photo credit: NASA Television

The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) has separated from the SpaceX Falcon Heavy second stage rocket.

The GOES-U spacecraft will now unfurl its solar arrays and work toward powering up and establishing communications with ground controllers.

Follow along while the team works to acquire signal from the satellite.

Continue checking NASA’s GOES blog for additional mission milestones, or join the conversation and get updates on social media by following these accounts:

X: @NASA, @NASA_LSP, @NASAKennedy, @NOAASatellites, @NASAGoddard
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NOAA’s Weather Satellite Mission Completes Final Burn

The second stage of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy completes its final burn ahead of deployment of NOAA’s GOES-U mission on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Photo credit: NASA Television

The rocket’s second stage completed its final burn before it separates from the satellite. The satellite will separate from the rocket in about eight minutes. Then, about 15 minutes later, the satellite will deploy its solar array and should achieve a power positive state about 10 minutes.

Continue checking NASA’s GOES blog for additional mission milestones, or join the conversation and get updates on social media by following these accounts:

X: @NASA, @NASA_LSP, @NASAKennedy, @NOAASatellites, @NASAGoddard
Facebook: NASA, NASA LSP, NASA Kennedy, NOAA Satellites, NASA Goddard
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GOES-U Satellite Now in Coast Phase

The second stage of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy fired its engines for more than a minute, before experiencing the second stage engine cut off of this mission.

The GOES-U satellite now will coast for just under four hours before its final burn, establishing it in a geostationary orbit, about 22,236 miles above Earth.

Continue checking NASA’s GOES blog for additional mission milestones, or join the conversation and get updates on social media by following these accounts:

X: @NASA, @NASA_LSP, @NASAKennedy, @NOAASatellites, @NASAGoddard
Facebook: NASA, NASA LSP, NASA Kennedy, NOAA Satellites, NASA Goddard
Instagram: NASA, NASA Kennedy, NOAA Satellites

Falcon Heavy Side Boosters Stick the Landing

Side boosters from SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket land at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. — Side boosters from SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket land at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Photo credit: SpaceX

The SpaceX Falcon Heavy’s dual first-stage side boosters have completed near-simultaneous touchdowns at Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Meanwhile, the rocket has completed the first second stage engine cut off. It will experience cut off twice more. The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) satellite continues its journey to a geostationary orbit, about 22,236 miles above the equator. It will coast for just under 20 minutes before it experiences a short burn.

Continue checking NASA’s GOES blog for additional mission milestones, or join the conversation and get updates on social media by following these accounts:

X: @NASA, @NASA_LSP, @NASAKennedy, @NOAASatellites, @NASAGoddard
Facebook: NASA, NASA LSP, NASA Kennedy, NOAA Satellites, NASA Goddard
Instagram: NASA, NASA Kennedy, NOAA Satellites

Falcon Heavy Main Engine Cutoff

The Falcon Heavy center core’s nine Merlin engines have reached cutoff, and the booster has separated from the second stage.

Coming up next, the Falcon Heavy’s second stage engine starts up. Following that, the protective payload fairings will be jettisoned revealing NOAA’s (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) to the vacuum of space for the first time as it makes its way to geosynchronous orbit.

Continue checking NASA’s GOES blog for additional mission milestones, or join the conversation and get updates on social media by following these accounts:

X: @NASA, @NASA_LSP, @NASAKennedy, @NOAASatellites, @NASAGoddard
Facebook: NASA, NASA LSP, NASA Kennedy, NOAA Satellites, NASA Goddard
Instagram: NASA, NASA Kennedy, NOAA Satellites

Liftoff! NASA, NOAA Launch GOES-U Weather Satellite Mission

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) mission launched at 5:26 p.m. EDT, June 25 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

A series of rapid events occurs after launch, one of the most important is Max Q – the moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket. After Max Q the Falcon Heavy’s dual side booster engines will cutoff and separate from the center core booster to begin their recovery journey for vertical landings at SpaceX Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Landing should occur about eight and a half minutes after liftoff.

Still to come is the center core’s main engine cutoff and separation from the Falcon Heavy’s second stage.

NASA will provide continuous mission coverage on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website until 6 p.m. NASA will then provide live updates at the top of every hour until approximately 10 p.m.

Continue checking NASA’s GOES blog for additional mission milestones, or join the conversation and get updates on social media by following these accounts:

X: @NASA, @NASA_LSP, @NASAKennedy, @NOAASatellites, @NASAGoddard
Facebook: NASA, NASA LSP, NASA Kennedy, NOAA Satellites, NASA Goddard
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Engine Chill Complete, Countdown to GOES-U Mission Launch Continues

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.

X: @NASA, @NASA_LSP, @NASAKennedy, @NOAASatellites, @NASAGoddard
Facebook: NASA, NASA LSP, NASA Kennedy, NOAA Satellites, NASA Goddard
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NASA Launch Manager Gives ‘Go’ for Launch

NASA’s launch manager has given a “go” for launch of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) mission.

In the next few moments, the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket’s 27 Merlin engines will roar to life at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, starting GOES-U’s journey to a geostationary orbit, about 22,236 miles above the equator.

NASA and SpaceX are targeting liftoff at 5:26 p.m. EDT.

Continue checking NASA’s GOES blog for additional mission milestones, or join the conversation and get updates on social media by following these accounts:

X: @NASA, @NASA_LSP, @NASAKennedy, @NOAASatellites, @NASAGoddard
Facebook: NASA, NASA LSP, NASA Kennedy, NOAA Satellites, NASA Goddard
Instagram: NASA, NASA Kennedy, NOAA Satellites