GOES-S lifted off at 5:02 p.m. EST on March 1, right at the opening of the launch window from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, aboard an Atlas V 541 launch vehicle from Launch Complex 41. The launch vehicle performed well and delivered the spacecraft to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) on target. Spacecraft separation occurred at 8:34 p.m. EST and first stage solar deployment occurred at 8:58 p.m. and the spacecraft was operating on its own power. The ability to command the spacecraft was confirmed and all data is nominal. The first liquid apogee engine burn to start the climb from GTO to geostationary orbit is planned for Saturday, March 3. The satellite is scheduled to reach geostationary orbit on March 18 and be renamed GOES-17. All images in this album are public domain. See the full album here.
