The GOES-R satellite reached another major milestone on August 22, 2016, as it flew from Littleton, Colorado to Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. After landing, the satellite was moved to its storage facility where technicians quickly began work to unpack and inspect the satellite. The successful shipment of GOES-R has brought the satellite another step closer to space and to revolutionizing weather forecasting across the United States. Over the next several weeks, the satellite will be prepared for its important mission in space.
Shipping a satellite is no small feat, however. GOES-R is over 18 feet wide and weighs over 6,000 lb! It will be stored in a special satellite shipping container aboard a massive C-5 airplane as it makes the journey across the country.
“This milestone is a great achievement for the entire GOES-R team, who have worked tirelessly to get the spacecraft to Florida,” said Greg Mandt, NOAA’s GOES-R system program director. “Moving forward, we are focused on preparing this highly advanced weather satellite for its historic launch in just a few short months.