Lockheed Martin-built GOES-S weather satellite was successfully launched today at 5:02pm ET from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket. Credit: PRNewsfoto/Lockheed Martin.

The new Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-S (GOES-S) has been launched into space on behalf of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, US.

The GOES-S is the second in a series of four next-generation geostationary weather satellites of NOAA the and was launched onboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket.

Following its launch, the weather satellite has successfully deployed its solar arrays and is currently operating on its own power.

Built by Lockheed Martin, the satellite is set to provide faster, accurate and detailed data to track storm systems, fog, lightning, wildfires, coastal fog and other hazards affecting the western US, Hawaii and Alaska.

“Nasa has supported the latest mission by overseeing the acquisition of the spacecraft, instruments and launch vehicles.”

Nasa has supported the latest mission by overseeing the acquisition of the spacecraft, instruments and launch vehicles.

After placing GOES-S in a geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above Earth within two weeks, NOAA will rename the satellite as GOES-17.

Following a full checkout and validation of its six high-tech instruments, GOES-17 is scheduled to move to the GOES-West position and become operational later this year.

From that position, the satellite will continue to provide non-stop advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements, and improved monitoring of solar activity and space weather, among others.

Apart from providing improved weather forecasts, the GOES-17 will support forecasters locate and track wildfires that will eventually help emergency response teams to fight fires.

The satellite will work alongside NOAA’s first geostationary series of satellite, GOES-16, which is currently at the GOES-East position.