GOES-R ground readiness amidst the Winter Experiment

This week is not only the first week of the Winter Experiment at the AWT, it also marks the final stages of a huge step in the AWC's GOES-R ground readiness. On January 18th, the installation of three new GOES-R Rebroadcast (GRB) antennas began in the antenna farm and has continued throughout the last month. Below is a video of one of these large 6.5m antennas being lifted onto it's pedestal via crane a week or so ago.

These antennas will allow us to pull a variety of advanced satellite imagery from our next generation satellite series. As there are no such satellite in orbit as of yet, the installation crew has been performing various checkouts and signal tests by pointing the antennas at the current GOES satellites. However, once GOES-R launches in October we will be able to configure our antenna systems accordingly and integrate them more fully into AWC operations.

The AWC's three new GRB antennas pointing straight up (in their installation positions) the evening after the lift

Training on the new antenna systems occurred yesterday, allowing AWC staff the chance to explore the new hardware and software. There is a definitely a lot to learn, but the challenge was brightened by the excitement of having this new advanced hardware. These new antennas really do dwarf our old GVARs, literally and figuratively! The new capabilities of both the satellites and the antennas will continue to support the robust satellite operations at the AWC.

The antenna installation is scheduled to be completed this Friday after the conclusion of the Site Acceptance Testing. It is a great feeling to be in the final stretch of this project and bring the AWC one step closer to day one GOES-R ground readiness.

An added bonus - the AWC now possesses an antenna farm that even ET himself would be envious of!