NASA and SpaceX now expect to launch the fourth and final satellite in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites – R Series no earlier than May.
The new target date for the GOES-U satellite launch will provide the agency and the company more time to perform additional testing on a new center core booster of the Falcon Heavy rocket, NOAA said Tuesday.
NOAA manages the GOES-R Series Program through an integrated office with NASA and oversees satellite operations and the ground system.
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland developed the Magnetometer instrument for GOES-T and GOES-U satellites and is responsible for the acquisition of instruments and spacecraft.
Lockheed Martin is responsible for designing, developing and testing the GOES-R series satellites, while L3Harris Technologies is the provider of the Advanced Baseline Imager instrument and ground system.
The launch of the GOES-U satellite was originally set to occur no earlier than April 30.
Hear government leaders, space experts and industry executives discuss the latest space technologies, commercial investments and urgent issues facing the space domain at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Space Summit on March 5. Register here.