KSC-05pd-0393

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The latest Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) developed by NASA for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) travels past the Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC. The satellite is being transported to Astrotech in Titusville, Fla., where final testing of the imaging system, instrumentation, communications and power systems will be performed over the next two months by Boeing Satellite Systems. The satellite arrived earlier at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility aboard a C17 military cargo aircraft. Called GOES-N, the satellite is targeted to launch May 4 onboard a Boeing expendable launch vehicle Delta IV (4,2). Once in orbit GOES-N will be designated GOES-13 and will complete checkout and be placed in on-orbit storage as a replacement for an older GOES satellite.