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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An essential piece of forecasting technology launched from Florida's coast in the form of a high-tech weather satellite that can map lightning and track wildfires from above.
The United Launch Alliance launched an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral on Tuesday afternoon carrying the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-T satellite into orbit.
This GOES-T satellite replaces another that was launched in March 2018 which has had numerous technical problems. It'll also help enhance the accuracy of long-range weather forecasts and has four times the resolution compared to the previous generation of satellites.
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"Every time you look at your phone, and you look at the weather and trying to plan your day, or figure out what to wear, have a picnic, not have a picnic – trace that all the way back to these satellites that provide information to weather forecasters," officials said.
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The 2-hour launch window opened at 4:38 p.m. ET. The rocket launched at the top of that window from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
On Thursday, SpaceX is gearing up for Falcon 9 launch. The rocket will be carrying another batch of Starlink satellites into orbit. The goal of Starlink is to create a network that will help provide internet services to those who are not yet connected and to provide reliable and affordable internet across the globe.
Liftoff for the Falcon 9 is scheduled for 9:32 a.m.
You can watch both launches live by downloading the FOX 35 News App.
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