The bicycle, sometimes called a bike or cycle, is a two-wheeled steerable machine. Pedals turn the front wheel, and the power is transmitted by a chainwheel to a sprocket on the rear wheel. Bicycles are primarily used for transportation, although they can be used for recreation or transporting cargo as well.

A bike can be ridden with little effort at speeds up to 16-24 km per hour (about four to five times the pace of walking). Cycling is an excellent form of exercise, providing a substantial cardiovascular workout. It also improves fitness levels and lowers the risk of obesity and other health conditions.

Traditionally, a bike has been a rigid frame with a single front and rear wheel. However, the design has been refined over time to include a variety of features. For example, some bikes have been modified with pegs attached to the frame to allow extra riders to stand on them or a hitch mounted to the fork to tow a trailer.

Other bicycle accessories are designed to enhance the rider’s comfort or performance, including a saddle or seat, a padded or upholstered handlebar grip, a pedal brace, and a handlebar stem. Many bicycles have a variety of gearing, including derailleur gears that move the chain from one sprocket to another.

Bike equipment can be a significant investment. When choosing a new bicycle, it is important to consider the amount of riding that the rider will do and the type of terrain on which he or she will be using the bike. It is also essential to check the size and fit of the bicycle before purchasing it, as a bike that is too big can cause problems while riding it.

Overuse can cause injuries, especially if the cyclist rides too much for his or her body’s ability to handle it. Early signs of overuse may be muscle pain, joint pain and numbness. If left untreated, these can lead to severe and disabling injury.

In order to increase the capacity of a cyclist’s muscles, he or she must gradually add the length and frequency of training sessions. Ideally, he or she should start with an hour or two of cycling a day and work up to about 100 miles or kilometers per week.

Most people who have started riding bicycles find that the process is enjoyable and that it is a great way to get in shape. They usually enjoy riding with other people, chatting and sharing a laugh or two along the way.

It is also fun to see the sights in a new area, and to enjoy a fresh breeze on a pleasant day. For these reasons, people who like to cycle often spend time in their favorite parks and neighborhoods, and even travel long distances by bicycle.

Cyclists tend to be very healthy and generally live longer than non-cyclists. This is especially true for women. It is known that women who regularly bike have a lower incidence of heart disease, diabetes and cancer than women who do not.

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Program (GOES) is a satellite constellation of geosynchronous equatorial orbiting weather and space weather satellites operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Since their initial launch in 1975, GOES have helped meteorologists better understand atmospheric conditions and solar activity, leading to more accurate forecasts and a better understanding of long-term climate conditions.

The GOES system has been in operation since the launch of SMS-1 on October 16, 1975, and has grown to include three current series: GOES-N, GOES-R, and GOES-U. The Lockheed Martin-built GOES-R series has extended the operational life of the GOES fleet to 2036.

GOES-16 is a geosynchronous operational environmental satellite that was launched on March 11, 2014, by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Its design, construction and testing was a joint effort between NASA and Lockheed Martin.

It is part of a larger GOES-R satellite program that includes GOES-16, GOES-17 (GOES-R/S) and GOES-T that will provide continuous operational support for NOAA through December 2036.

Unlike its predecessors, the GOES-16 satellite is designed to operate in geostationary orbit at an altitude of 35,790 km (22,240 mi). This is higher than any other current weather satellite and offers a more detailed view of the United States, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and parts of the Caribbean Sea.

This spacecraft is equipped with six instruments that observe the Earth and sun at a variety of wavelengths, including visible and infrared light. The most important is the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) which produces images at 16 different wavelengths and provides a full range of Earth-viewing capabilities.

The ABI is used for air temperature estimation, cloud top height and cloud drift observations, as well as supplementing Advanced Synoptic (ASOS) observation data. The instrument also monitors the atmosphere for changes in water vapour and cloudiness.

Other instruments on GOES-16 include the geostationary lightning mapper, a space environment in-situ suite (SEISS) and the solar ultraviolet imager (SUVI). The SEISS is a multi-channel sensor that monitors proton, electron, and heavy ion fluxes from the magnetosphere.

In addition, GOES-16 is equipped with a Solar X-Ray Imager (SXI), which enables high-cadence monitoring of large solar structures to support the Space Environment Services Center’s (SESC) mission. This capability was critical during hurricanes Hugo (1989) and Andrew (1992).

GOES-16 is the third of four satellites in the Lockheed Martin-built GOES-R (GOES-R/S) series that extends the lifetime of the GOES fleet to 2036. The four satellites were built to the same specifications as the GOES-17 and GOES-16 satellites and will be manufactured at the Lockheed Martin facility in Huntsville, Alabama.

GOES is a space weather service that provides information to the military and commercial radio wave and satellite communications systems, electric power networks, high-altitude aviators, and scientific researchers. It also provides alerts and forecasts for solar flares, geomagnetic storms, and other spaceweather events. The GOES-R satellites will continue to provide this vital service and also support the search and rescue missions of NOAA and other agencies throughout the world.