KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – NASA and NOAA scientists trumpeted a new satellite that launched Tuesday from Kennedy Space Center that will improve data and forecasting for weather events ranging from flash floods to hurricanes to solar storms.
NASA and SpaceX launched the GOES-U satellite atop a Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center Tuesday evening.
NOAA’s GOES-U satellite is the final addition to the GOES satellite series, meant to improve the detection of weather events on both Earth and in space.
The GOES-U satellite in particular has some features that are important for Florida weather forecasting, according to News 6 meteorologist Jonathan Kegges. The satellite will be vital in helping with tracking hurricanes and forecasting their intensity, early warning of severe storms and tornadoes, and identifying lightning strikes most likely to ignite fires.
GOES-U will also have equipment on board to provide imaging of the sun and detect solar flares and other space weather that could disrupt electricity and communication systems. The satellite will have a telescope and coronagraph that will allow scientists to continuously observe the sun’s outer atmosphere.
“In doing so, this powerful solar telescope allows us to observe the corona, which is the region where extreme space weather events originate,” said Elsayed Talaat, director of NOAA’s Office of Space Weather Observations.
That means scientists will be able to better predict and understand events like the G5 storm we had in May, which allowed us to see the Aurora Borealis as far down as here in Florida.
Falcon Heavy is vertical at pad 39A in Florida ahead of Tuesday’s launch of the GOES-U weather satellite → https://t.co/bdfqFpPbAX pic.twitter.com/PQvZkXdil8
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 25, 2024
Other things this satellite will help with:
- Better monitoring of atmospheric river events that can cause flooding and mudslides
- Detection of heavy rainfall and flash flood risks
- Monitoring sea surface temperature
- Provide data to help with planning for flights and reducing weather-related flight delays
- Improved ability to pinpoint fog development, helping with traffic issues
- Improved data to support efforts to fight wildfires
To learn more about the satellite, head to the NOAA website.
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