The GOES-P (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite), which is the latest in the list of meteorological satellites, is designed to watch for storm development and changing weather conditions on Earth.

This newly launched satellite will supply the Government with data which is useful in whether forecasting. It was built by Boeing and developed by NASA for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Launched on March 4, 2010, it rode a Delta IV rocket into space.

Andre Dress, the NASA GOES Deputy Project Manager said, "It's a great day for NASA and NOAA, as this last launch completes the spacecraft in the GOES N-P series. It means the hard work and dedication from this team during the past 12-plus years all has been worth it. Our review of the spacecraft and launch vehicle data shows that GOES-P is in a nominal transfer orbit with all spacecraft systems functioning properly".

It is also useful in detecting ocean and land temperatures, monitoring space weather, relaying communications and providing search-and-rescue support.

NASA said, "The GOES-P spacecraft completed its build late in 2006 (just after the launch of GOES-N) and since that time the spacecraft was in storage at the Boeing Facility in El Segundo, CA," NASA said on a Web page about the satellite?".