Lockheed Martin Delivers Core Structure for Next-Gen GOES Satellite
Tags: NOAA, GOES-R, Weather Satellite, NASA, Lockheed Martin, ATK
Publication: Examiner.com
Publication Date: 01/07/2013
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Artist’s rendition of the GOES-R satellite.
Image credit: Lockheed Martin
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Lockheed Martin announced that the core structure for NOAA‘s first next-generation geostationary weather satellite has been delivered at NASA‘s Stennis Space Center for propulsion system integration.
The satellite, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R Series (GOES-R), will be ultimately equipped with advanced instruments and technology to improve the quality and timeliness in weather forecasting for the U.S. and Western Hemisphere. The spacecraft’s development is reported to be going on schedule for its planned 2015 launch.
The rigid core structure that will encase the satellite’s propulsion systems and support the payloads was designed by Lockheed Martin Space Systems and manufactured by ATK Aerospace Group‘s Space and Components Division. It weighs 400 pounds and holds loads of approximately 95,000 pounds in the thrust direction and 1.8 million in-pounds in a bending moment.
The propulsion system integration phase will last almost a year. In it, the core structure will be integrated with fuel tanks, thermal, controls, lines and other GOES-R systems. Once the integration is complete, the structure will be matched with the GOES-R system module, where the satellite’s advanced instruments live.
Besides the spacecraft, Lockheed Martin is also designing and building the Solar Ultraviolet Imager and the Geostationary Lighting Mapper for the GOES-R satellite.
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