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PRESS CONTACTS: Patricia Viets, NOAA, (301) 457-5005
Cynthia O'Carroll, NASA, (310) 614-5563
CONSTITUENT CONTACT: Joyce Gross, 202/482-8360, Joyce.W.Gross@xxxxxxxx
GOES-11 Snaps First Image
The nation's newest weather satellite, GOES-11, has sent back its first
image from space, the Commerce Department's NOAA and NASA announced today.
GOES-11, a geostationary weather satellite that takes images of clouds,
measures temperature, and reads the amount of moisture in the atmosphere,
sent back a clear, crisp image from its vantage point 22,300 miles in
space. The GOES-L satellite was launched on May 3 from Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station, Fla., and was re-named GOES-11 on May 11.
"The image clearly demonstrates that these important observations will
continue to be provided," said Gerry Dittberner, NOAA's GOES program
manager. "Fine-scale meteorological features stand out clearly; it's right
on the mark."
GOES-11 will be stored in orbit and will replace either GOES-8 or GOES-10
as needed. "GOES" stands for Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satellite. GOES-11 is scheduled to reach its final geosynchronous orbit on
May 21.
GOES satellites are operated by NOAA's National Environmental Satellite,
Data, and Information Service in Suitland, Md., which assumes
responsibility for command and control, data receipt, and product
generation and distribution after the satellites complete on-orbit
checkout. The GOES spacecraft are a critical component of the ongoing
National Weather Service modernization program, aiding forecasters in
providing more precise and timely forecasts.
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., manages the design,
development and launch of the spacecraft. NASA's Kennedy Space Center in
Florida is responsible for government oversight of launch operations and
countdown activities. NOAA's Systems Acquisition Office provides
programmatic and acquisition guidelines to both Goddard and Kennedy.
GOES-L, built by Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of Loral Space and
Communications Ltd., was launched on an Atlas IIA rocket, built by Lockheed
Martin. The on-board meteorological instruments for GOES-L include an
imager and a sounder manufactured by ITT Industries
Aerospace/Communications Division.
Note: The first image is available at: NOAA: http://www.osei.noaa.gov.
Click onto Current Events. Scroll down to UNIgoes file.
NASA Web site: http://pao.gsfc.nasa.gov/gsfc/earth/goesl/goesl.htm
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