Today, the GOES-T satellite blasted off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

The rocket was an investment of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, costing the agency $11.7 billion. It will be orbiting the Earth at around 22,3000 miles above. The goal of this satellite is to help scientists with looking at weather systems and natural hazards across a broad stretch of the western hemisphere.

GOES-T will be renamed GOES-18 once in orbit. It will then be located at 89.5 degrees west in longitude to monitor the happenings of the central United States until May, at which point, the satellite will be over east Pacific Ocean. Both areas are experiencing severe weather patterns.

GOES-18 has capabilities for checking for smoke, which is becoming ever so important with the increased wildfires in the country, along with many other advanced features.

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