Stock Photo - 04/07/1999 ___ Workers at Astrotech, in Titusville, Fla., prepare the GOES_L satellite for a media showing. The GOES_L is due to be launched May 15 from Launch Pad 36A aboard an Atlas IIA rocket. Once in orbit, the satellite will become GOES_11, joining GOES_8, GOES_9 and GOES_10 in space. The fourth of a new advanced series of geostationary weather satellites for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA, GOES_L is a three_axis inertially stabilized spacecraft that will provide pictures and perform atmospheric sounding at the same time. Once launched, the satellite will undergo checkout and then provide backup capabilities for the existing, aging operational satellites