Lockheed Martin Powers On First GOES-R Weather Satellite
Oct. 2, 2013
Lockheed
Martin has powered on the system module of the GOES-R satellite
for the first time. The Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satellite–R series (GOES-R) is NOAA's next geostationary weather
satellite. Power-on of the spacecraft's avionics and major
electronic subsystems is a key milestone to delivery of the
first satellite.
The system module of the A2100-based
satellite is being built at Lockheed Martin Space System's
Newtown, Pa. facility. The system module testing
will demonstrate the functionality and integration of three
major electrical subsystems, Command and Data Handling,
Communication, and Electrical Power. A total of 76 electronic
boxes and 12 wiring harnesses were installed in preparation for
this power up.
"This is one of the most significant
milestones on the program to date and our team demonstrated
their dedication by getting us here on-time," said
Paula Hartley, program
manager for the GOES-R Series at Lockheed Martin Space Systems
Company. "Even though we thoroughly test each subsystem at the
box level, this is the first time that we've seen it working as
a complex integrated system. It's the beginning of a new
satellite."
With successful completion of the
system module testing, the GOES-R system module will be shipped
to Lockheed Martin Space Systems'
Waterton facility near
Denver to be integrated with the propulsion
module. Once the system module and propulsion module are mated,
the spacecraft will move onto the payload integration,
functional testing and environmental testing phases of the
program.
Data from NOAA's GOES satellites
provides accurate real-time weather forecasts and early warning
products to NOAA's National Weather Service and other public and
private sectors. The advanced spacecraft and instrument
technology on the GOES-R series will vastly improve forecasting
quality and timeliness, generating significant benefits to the
U.S. and Western Hemisphere in the areas of public safety,
severe weather monitoring, space weather prediction, ecosystems
management, commerce and transportation.
In January
2013, NASA exercised the option for Lockheed Martin to
develop two additional GOES R-series satellites, designated T &
U, for NOAA bringing the total number of satellites that will be
built to four.
In addition to the spacecraft,
Lockheed Martin is also designing and building the Solar
Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI) and the Geostationary Lighting Mapper
(GLM) instruments that will each fly aboard the four spacecraft.