NASA's Next Weather Satellite To Revolutionize Forecasting
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
CAPE CANAVERAL (CBSMiami/AP) — The United States' most advanced weather satellite is set for a sunset liftoff Saturday.
NASA is launching the $1 billion GOES-R satellite for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. An unmanned Atlas rocket is scheduled to blast off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 5:42 p.m. Saturday.
The satellite will aim for a 22,300-mile-high orbit, where it will churn out the sharpest and fastest pictures yet of hurricanes, tornadoes and other U.S. weather. NOAA (NO-ah) expects it to revolutionize forecasting. It's part of a new $11 billion system that ultimately will include four satellites.
Two-dozen meteorologists from around the country are on hand for the big event. The weather, appropriately enough, couldn't be better for launching.
GOES-R eventually will become known as GOES-16. It will join three other weather satellites already in orbit.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)