Boeing

The first of three next-generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) manufactured by Boeing [NYSE: BA] for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) prepares for shipment to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a launch in May, 2005.

The GOES-N mission represents the best of mission integration as Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems and Boeing Expendable Launch Systems prepares to the launch the Boeing built 601 satellite onboard a Boeing built Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) configuration launch vehicle. GOES-N will provide more accurate prediction and tracking of severe storms and other weather phenomena, resulting in earlier and more precise warnings to the public. Supporting NOAA and NASA scientists collecting and analyzing real-time environmental data, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard searching the open seas, GOES N stands ready as the most advanced multi-mission weather and earth observation satellite ever built. Last year, the quality satellite manufacturing and process initiatives of Boeing were validated from the Software Engineering Institute's Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Level 5 certification and Aerospace Standards (AS) 9100 certification.