GOES-R Satellite Launch
On November 19, 2016 a new generation of weather satellite known as GOES-R was launched into orbit from Launch Pad 41 of Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Mike traveled to Florida to cover the launch for WCCO-TV | CBS Minnesota, attended several days of workshops and informational briefings leading up to the event, and was granted rare access to areas of Kennedy Space Center that are restricted to the public and most media.
See the trip through Mike's eyes below.
GOES-R Launch
The launch of GOES-R as seen, in real time, looking northeast toward Launchpad 41 from the causeway located along the Banana River, at Kennedy Space Center.
Thursday November 17, 2016 | Launch L-2
Live from Kennedy Space Center!
Posted by Mike Augustyniak on Thursday, November 17, 2016
Tour of Vehicle Assembly Building
Day-2 began with a tour of the iconic NASA Vehicle Assembly Building. Spacecraft from the Saturn V rockets that carried Apollo missions to the moon, to the Space Shuttles, to GOES-R and other satellites, are assembled in this 520-foot tall 4-bay hangar. This is a Facebook Live tour from the ground floor, before the group went up to the roof on the 46th floor.
Live from launch pad 39B -- the launchpad of the future, where SLS will launch
Posted by Mike Augustyniak on Thursday, November 17, 2016
TOUR OF Launch pad 39b
An up-close tour of Launch Pad 39B, one of the two iconic Space Shuttle launch pads at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. This pad is currently "clean," meaning all of the launch infrastructure has been removed as it awaits the next mission, which will likely include the Space Launch System (SLS) missions.
WCCO STORY | LIVE AT 5PM
Reporting live for WCCO, Mike explains what GOES-R is, and why it was necessary to develop a new generation of weather satellites.
Text story available at http://cbsloc.al/2gbV8rW
Friday NOVEMBER 18, 2016 | LAUNCH L-1
GOES-R ROLLOUT | TIMELAPSE
Rollout of GOES-R aboard the Atlas 541 Launch vehicle began around 10:30am, following several delays. The 1/3 of a mile between the Vertical Integration Facility and Launch Pad 41 was covered in about 40 minutes.
Live from within 1,000 feet of the GOES-R rocket.
Posted by Mike Augustyniak on Friday, November 18, 2016
GOES-R ON THE LAUNCH PAD
An up-close look at GOES-R in its payload fairing, and the Atlas 541 rocket that will transport it into space. This view is within 500' of the rocket on the pad, and closer than almost anyone in the world was allowed to be.
WCCO STORY | LIVE AT 5PM
Reporting live for WCCO, Mike explains what GOES-R is, and why it was necessary to develop a new generation of weather satellites.
Text story available at http://cbsloc.al/2fWqdwE
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2016 | LAUNCH L0
WCCO STORIES | LIVE 8-9 AM
A look at what is ahead on launch day, including a weather briefing from the Launch Weather Officer of the 45th Space Wing at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
WCCO STORY | AT 10PM
Reporting for WCCO, Mike describes the drama leading up to the launch of GOES-R, and how the launch looked and felt from his location.
Text story available at http://cbsloc.al/2garbVc