Nation’s newest weather satellite rockets into space, will serve as backup in orbiting network

NASA launches nation’s newest weather satellite

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA has launched the nation’s newest weather satellite.

An unmanned rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Thursday evening, carrying a $500 million GOES satellite.

The spacecraft will undergo testing for the next six months and will eventually be an orbiting spare in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite network. The satellites are operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

They provide vital images of hurricanes and other storms that threaten the United States. Meteorologists say they couldn’t track storms or issue the proper warnings without them.

The new satellite is GOES-P. It will become GOES-15 once it reaches the proper orbit.

On the Net:

NOAA Satellites: www.noaa.gov/satellites.html

NASA: www.nasa.gov/home/index.html