The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-L. or GOES-L.
is the fourth satellite in a series of five next generation geosynchronous spacecraft.
Referred to as GOES-NEXT. the five GOES I-M satellites are part of NOAA's
fleet of weather satellites. providing weather monitoring and forecasting. and a key
component of NOAA's National Weather Service operations.
An Atlas II rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Fla.
on May 3. 2000 at 3:07 a.m. Eastern time.
The powerful Atlas successfully delivered the GOES-L spacecraft into orbit.
where it was renamed GOES-11. In June 2006. GOES-11 replaced GOES-10
as GOES-WEST. and continues to provide critical and life-saving data
from across the globe.