A bicycle is a two-wheeled human-powered vehicle that’s steered by handlebars. It’s a form of transport that can carry riders as well as cargo, and can be used for recreation or for transportation to work or school. It’s also a popular sport that can be used for racing or endurance competitions, or just to enjoy the outdoors. Bikes are simple to use and can be easily learned by adults and children. There are many different types of bicycles, from entry-level models to high-end racers’ bikes. Regardless of the type of bike, it’s important to take proper care of a bicycle to keep it in good working condition.

The first bicycles were made of wood, with wooden or metal wheels attached to a wooden or steel frame. It’s not clear who invented the bicycle, but by the early 1860s major bicycle production had begun in Europe. During this time, it was common to see young people riding around town on their bicycles. They could visit nearby villages, and even ride to distant towns and meet up with friends. Parish records show a rise in intervillage marriages during this “bicycle craze.”

In the United States, major bicycle production began when J. K. Starley started the company that eventually became the Rover Cycle Company Ltd. He and his team developed a more efficient velocipede de pedale, which had a more powerful crankset and a chain drive that made it easier to ride. It was also lighter than previous machines, and it could be built faster to reduce production costs.

Several innovations made it possible for more people to use bicycles. In the late 19th century, they reduced crowding in urban tenements and allowed workers to commute from the suburbs to city jobs. In addition, the bicycle could travel up to three times as far on a given amount of energy than walking and up to four times as fast as a horse. It was also a more cost-effective way to move goods than a wagon or steamship.

Most modern bicycles are manufactured with a frame and fork constructed from aluminum alloys to provide strength and lightness. Alloy welding technology was developed during the 1930s, and this technology allows designers to make frames that are both stiff and compliant by manipulating the way in which the frame and fork tubes are welded together. Many manufacturers also use titanium for frame and fork tubes, but these are more expensive and less common.

A bicycle can be fitted with a basket for carrying groceries, laundry, or luggage. A child seat can be added to the rear for carrying kids, and a hitch may be added to haul a trailer for bringing home furniture or supplies. A stand is an auxiliary platform that can be mounted on the back of the bicycle for storage or to allow a rider to rest. A person can also perform cycling tricks on a bicycle, such as performing a 360° turn while seated.

GOES is NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite program that provides continuous imagery and data on atmospheric conditions and solar activity (space weather). Since its inception in 1975, the satellites and their suite of sensors have enhanced meteorological forecasting capabilities, improved long-term climate monitoring, and assisted with search and rescue operations. The GOES series is a joint NOAA-NASA program with NASA building and launching the satellites, and NOAA operating them.

The GOES-R Series is NOAA’s most advanced meteorological satellite system. The GOES-R satellites are designed to operate for a period of at least 14 years (design life) providing a remote sensing capability to acquire and disseminate regional environmental imagery and specialized meteorological, climatological, terrestrial, oceanographic and solar-geophysical data to central processing centers and distributed direct users.

When the GOES-R series is fully deployed, it will provide full hemispheric coverage of Earth’s weather systems including areas of polar and tropical circulation. It will also provide significantly reduced latency for the timely dissemination of critical meteorological information.

GOES-R-18 is set to launch in the next few weeks from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. However, a minor issue on the ULA Atlas V booster that will be used for the launch has postponed the mission. The team is working toward a resolution.

Once GOES-R-18 is in geostationary orbit, it will be renamed GOES West. Once it begins its operational mission, the satellite will provide continuous coverage of the Western Hemisphere from a spot 22,236 miles above Earth.

Unlike the first GOES satellites that were spin-stabilized and only viewed Earth about ten percent of the time, the second generation of satellites, which launched in the mid-1980s, offered meteorologists a more complete view of atmospheric conditions by tracking rapidly developing weather events. The new satellites had a Visible/Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR) that provided day and night imagery of cloud and surface temperatures, along with heights and wind fields.

These satellites also included the Enhanced Polarization Scattering (EPS) and High Energy Proton Alpha-Deuteron (HEPAD) instruments, which allow scientists to monitor the very high energy protons and alpha particles of large solar flares and the continuous monitoring of galactic cosmic rays. EPS and HEPAD have proven to be valuable tools for improving storm forecasting by increasing data availability, especially for severe thunderstorms.

Aerospace’s Renee Dudley, Systems Director supporting the GOES/GeoXO Program Office, was recently named NOAA’s Team Member of the Month for her role in overseeing the Naval Research Laboratory’s development of the Compact Coronagraph (CCOR) on GOES-19. CCOR is the first-ever coronagraph on a NOAA GOES satellite, enabling operators to detect and track dangerous space weather conditions that can impact Earth and space assets.

Aerospace has supported the GOES/GeoXO program from its inception. Its engineers and scientists have contributed to spacecraft architecture design, ground system architecture, satellite operations, and sensor support. In addition, the company’s GOES-R program support specialists have worked with NOAA’s Operations and Engineering stakeholders to ensure space-to-ground communications work seamlessly for the mission. This commitment has resulted in a record level of performance and mission success.