LAUNCH UPDATES: GOES-T satellite has launched from Florida
America's most powerful weather satellite had a successful liftoff on a ULA Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida on Tuesday afternoon. Follow live coverage from FOX Weather and learn how the GOES-T satellite will improve weather forecasting.
Coverage for this event has ended.
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The satellite will be positioned 22,300 miles away from Earth.
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ULA says we are a GO for launch with less than five minutes away.
Officials say that we are now at a 90% chance for launch.
Winds are the only remaining concern for launch.
(Credit: NOAA)
Satellite imagery shows clouds clearing near the Cape.
Onsite officials say that conditions remain acceptable for liftoff.
The Atlas V GOES- T countdown to launch has entered a planned 30-minute hold at T minus 4 minutes.
Liftoff still on track for 4:38 p.m. ET.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) T satellite on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket during the NASA rollout event in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S. (Getty Images)
The launch window will open at 4:38 p.m. ET and will last until 6:38 p.m. ET.
ULA says that liftoff is possible at the top of every minute within that two-hour period, for a total of 121 opportunities to launch today.
We are about an hour away from when the launch window opens. Here is a look at some statistics about the weather satellite.
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GOES-T will track wildfires and provide advance warning for severe weather but it will also improve space weather forecasting, giving warnings of incoming geomagnetic storms.
While solar flares also cause beautiful phenomena like the Northern Lights, the same flares can knock out satellite communication or even create drag, causing the spacecraft to pull closer to Earth.
Since 1975 the GOES satellites have provided stunning images of hurricanes, critical data for climate forecasts and warned of solar disturbances.
NASA estimates the satellites have taken over 3 million images of Earth so far, with many years ahead for the program.
If the launch happens today GOES-T will be the newest satellite to join the pack.
Current wind speeds near KSC and Cape Canaveral.
The countdown has resumed and Atlas V rocket fueling is underway at Space Launch Complex 41.
It's windy at the Kennedy Space Center press site where FOX Weather is covering the GOES-T launch. Liftoff winds are one aspect of launch weather criteria that need to be met before launch.
Current wind speeds are between 10 and 15 mph near KSC.
Currently, the 45th Weather Squadron gives the liftoff window an 70% chance of good weather for launch. The primary concern will be possible cumulus cloud cover and liftoff winds.
If the launch is delayed to Wednesday those winds are expected to calm down leaving cloud cover as the only concern.
The 2-hour launch window opens at 4:38 p.m. ET.
On Monday, FOX Weather was there as ULA rolled the mighty Atlas V rocket to the launchpad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station ahead of Tuesday's GOES-T satellite launch.
We're now just two hours away from the launch window that opens at 4:38 p.m.
Live Coverage begins here