KSC-05pd-0501

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Astrotech in Titusville, Fla., an overhead crane is moved into place above the GOES-N satellite, which is on a rotation stand. The crane will lift the satellite from the rotation stand and move it to a work stand. Since its arrival on March 11, the satellite has been undergoing final testing by Boeing Satellite Systems of the imaging system, instrumentation, communications and power systems. Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) are sponsored by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. GOES-N is targeted to launch May 4 onboard a Boeing expendable launch vehicle Delta IV (4,2) with a 3-burn second stage operation.