GOES-S: NOAA's Next-Gen Weather Satellite in Photos

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Up, Up, Up

Ben Smegelsky/NASA

Rocket Boosters

Ben Smegelsky/NASA

A solid rocket booster is mated to the Atlas V first stage prior to the launch of the GOES-S weather satellite.

Prepping the Satellite

Kim Shiflett/NASA

Technicians inside the clean room at the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Florida monitor progress as the GOES-S is encapsulated in the payload fairing.

Centaur Upper Stage

Kim Shiflett/NASA

The Centaur upper stage arrives at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 41 Vertical Integration Facility.

High and Secured

Bill White/NASA

Inside the Vertical Integration Facility, the GOES-S satellite is secured in the high bay, inside its payload fairing.

Beauty in Technology

Glenn Benson/NASA

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the GOES-S satellite sits inside its payload fairing and atop a transporter as it passes the Vehicle Assembly Building.

Connecting the Pieces

Glenn Benson/NASA

A crane lowers the GOES-S, inside its payload fairing, onto the ULA Atlas V rocket at the ULA Vertical Integration Facility.

Mating with the Atlas V Rocket

Glenn Benson/NASA

Moving the GOES-S satellite inside the payload fairing onto the Vertical Integration Facility, a crane lifts the module up, readying it to be mated to the ULA Atlas V rocket.

Reflections of Tomorrow

Glenn Benson/NASA

The lake at Space Launch Complex 41 reflects the payload fairing carrying the GOES-S satellite as its raised at Cape Canaveral.

Atlas V Rocket Rolls to Launchpad

NASA/Ben Smegelsky

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the GOES-S weather satellite is rolled to Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Christine Lunsford
Christine Lunsford
Producer and Contributing Writer

Christine Lunsford joined the Space.com team in 2010 as a freelance producer and later became a contributing writer, covering astrophotography images, astronomy photos and amazing space galleries and more. During her more than 10 years with Space.com, oversaw the site's monthly skywatching updates and produced overnight features and stories on the latest space discoveries. She enjoys learning about subjects of all kinds.