KSC-2009-3841

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A prelaunch news conference on the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-O mission is held in NASA's Kennedy Space Center press site auditorium. From left, the participants are George H. Diller, moderator, Media Services, Kennedy Space Center; Gary Davis, director, Office of Systems Development, NOAA Satellite and Information Service, Suitland, Md.; Kris Walsh, Commercial Programs manager, United Launch Alliance, Houston; Kevin Reyes, director, Business Development, Boeing Launch Services; Andre Dress, GOES-O deputy project manager, Goddard Space Flight Center; Charlie Maloney, GOES-O program manager, Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems, Seal Beach, Calif.; Bart Hagemeyer, meteorologist in charge, NOAA National Weather Service forecast office, Melbourne, Fla.; and Joel Tumbiolo, Delta IV launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The GOES-O satellite is targeted to launch June 26. The latest Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, GOES-O was developed by NASA for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA. Each of the GOES satellites continuously provides 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/Jim Grossmann