KSC-2009-3570

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the GOES-O satellite is ready to be transported from the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., to Launch Complex 37. There it will be lifted into the mobile service tower and mated with the United Launch Alliance Delta IV expendable launch vehicle. The GOES-O satellite is targeted to launch no earlier than June 26. The latest Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, GOES-O was developed by NASA for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA. The GOES satellites continuously provide observations of 60 percent of the Earth including the continental United States, providing weather monitoring and forecast operations as well as a continuous and reliable stream of environmental information and severe weather warnings. Once in orbit, GOES-O will be designated GOES-14, and NASA will provide on-orbit checkout and then transfer operational responsibility to NOAA. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett