Nasa, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Boeing have received the first in-orbit signals from earth observation GOES-O satellite.
This is the second launch of the GOES N-P series and will enhance NOAA's earth-observation and weather-monitoring capabilities.
The spacecraft carries a suite of instruments for collecting information about the earth's surface, oceans, cloud cover and storm developments, atmospheric temperature and moisture, and detecting solar flares.
The satellite also carries instruments for measuring extreme ultraviolet and particle emissions, including solar protons, alpha particles and electrons. The satellite also has a search-and-rescue capability to detect distress signals from ships and planes.
The satellite was launched atop a Delta IV rocket on 27 June 2009, and will be handed over to NOAA after an in-orbit check out by Nasa and Boeing.
