(Updated) NOAA’s GOES-T satellite launching early next month: All you need to know

In addition to monitoring these regions, GOES-T will also keep an eye on the sun for solar eruptions and detect space weather hazards that can disrupt communications, navigation systems, and power utilities on Earth.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) next advanced geostationary weather satellite, GOES-T, is targeted to launch on Tuesday, March 1. The satellite, which is the third satellite in NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) - R series, will be renamed GOES-18 once it reaches geostationary orbit.

GOES-T will launch aboard an Atlas V 541 rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida at 4:38 pm ET on March 1, 2022.

The satellite will go into operation as GOES West, replacing the current GOES-17, and will watch over the U.S. West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Central America, and the Pacific Ocean extending to New Zealand to provide critical real-time information before, during, and after severe weather and disasters strike.

In addition to monitoring these regions, GOES-T will also keep an eye on the sun for solar eruptions and detect space weather hazards that can disrupt communications, navigation systems, and power utilities on Earth.

NASA will provide live coverage of the prelaunch and launch activities on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website.

Coming soon: faster, more accurate data to improve weather forecasts, track severe storms and other hazards.@NOAA's GOES-T satellite is scheduled to lift off at 4:38pm ET (21:38 UTC), Tuesday, March 1. Get the schedule of briefings and launch coverage: https://t.co/EBzpyFslyq pic.twitter.com/oGVeXTtz0v

— NASA (@NASA) February 20, 2022

Update 1

The GOES-T satellite is cleared to proceed with Tuesday's launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, following a successful Launch Readiness Review at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch vehicle will roll to the launch pad on Monday, February 28.