The launch of a Colorado-built weather satellite has been again delayed, this time for “unspecified issues” with the spacecraft, .
The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-Series weather satellite is the first of four GOES satellites being built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, near Littleton.
GOES-R — a joint project between NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — won’t head to space until next October, NOAA spokesman .
“NOAA, NASA and Lockheed Martin identified schedule risks to the completion of the spacecraft that threatened to impact the then-current launch date for GOES-R, March 2016,” Leslie wrote in a statement e-mailed Thursday to The Denver Post. “NOAA will continue working with its partners to conduct thorough reviews of the GOES-R system and revise the satellite delivery schedule.”
This is the second launch delay for GOES-R since 2012. The satellite, which was slated to launch this month, last year was pushed back to March 2016.
GOES-R and its three counterpart satellites collect three times more data at a rate five times faster than current satellites, allowing more accurate forecasting data and quicker, potentially life-saving issuance of severe-weather warnings.
There are three aging GOES satellites in orbit: one each over the East and West coasts of the U.S., and a backup in a holding pattern.
GOES-13, the satellite that GOES-R is slated to replace, launched in March 2006. It has suffered some instrument damage, according to NOAA.
Delaying the GOES-R launch until next October keeps GOES-13 in service for at least an extra year beyond its 10-year mission life, since GOES-R will conduct operational tests during its first six months in orbit, according to SpaceNews.
It also leaves the U.S. without a backup plan, according to a of the program published in May.
“We believe the delay could leave the GOES on-orbit constellation without a backup satellite for 29 months out of a 33-month period from April 2015 to January 2018,” the audit concluded.
GOES-R is of space. It recently completed, with flying colors, a rigorous thermal vacuum test that lasted more than 50 days.
The satellite is performing well, Lockheed Martin spokesman Gary Napier said, and the company is concentrating on the task at hand.
“Currently the spacecraft is in electrical testing and will soon start mechanical environment tests,” he said. “We understand the importance of this national mission. Our focus right now is on getting this spacecraft ready for its launch.”
Lockheed Martin’s contract for the four GOES satellites alone is worth $1.4 billion, but The company has also purchased goods or services for the GOES mission from 50 Colorado companies at the cost of $25 million.
Centennial-based United Launch Alliance was awarded the $446 million launch contract for both GOES-R and the next in the series of four GOES satellites, GOES-S.
Lockheed Martin is also the primary contractor for the first eight next-generation GPS-III satellites for the Air Force — due to a glitch in a navigational system provided by subcontractor Exelis, based in Rochester, N.Y.
The Air Force expects to take delivery of the first GPS-III satellite in August for a 2017 launch. However, the delay has caused many industry experts to for the next round of contracts to build 22 GPS-III satellites.
Laura Keeney: 303-954-1337, lkeeney@denverpost.com or @LauraKeeney
