GOES stands for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite. The GOES system, managed by NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service division, supports weather forecasting and severe storm tracking for North America. It also provides a wealth of scientific data for weather research and meteorology studies.

Unlike most weather satellites, which orbit the Earth at fixed altitudes and only scan the surface at intervals, the geostationary GOES satellites are positioned 35,790 kilometers (22,240 miles) above the planet’s surface in geosynchronous orbit, continuously viewing a specific region of the United States and its surrounding oceans. Two GOES satellites, called GOES East and GOES West, provide coverage for the eastern half of the country; one GOES-T is positioned to monitor Alaska and Hawaii as well as a large section of the Pacific Ocean.

Each GOES satellite is equipped with multiple instruments that are grouped into two suites: the Imager and the Sounder. The Imager captures visible and infrared light from Earth’s surface, clouds, and atmosphere to create imagery and maps of weather phenomena and the environment. The Sounder measures vertical atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles, as well as surface and cloud top temperature and ozone distribution.

Both GOES and the Sounder feature an advanced technology that allows them to track the evolution of severe weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and cold fronts. The imager’s high temporal cadence of 10 minutes and the Sounder’s rapid response time enable NOAA National Weather Service meteorologists to better track these events as they unfold.

GOES-R is the latest in NOAA’s series of geostationary weather satellites and features improved performance over previous generations. The GOES-R Series is a collaborative NOAA and NASA project with NOAA managing the satellites and their operations, NASA overseeing the acquisition of the spacecraft and instruments, and managing the launch service through the agency’s Launch Services Program based at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Lockheed Martin is developing the GOES-R Series satellites for NOAA with the help of partners and subcontractors from across the country. The GOES-R-1 satellite will be armed with a range of new instruments, including the Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (EVI) with three times more spectral channels, four times greater resolution and five times faster scanning than its predecessors, as well as the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) and Extreme Ultraviolet and X-ray Irradiance Sensors (EXIS). GOES-R-2 will premier the Naval Research Laboratory’s Compact Coronagraph-1.

The GOES-T satellite is currently undergoing thermal vacuum testing in a 29’ x 65’ chamber to simulate the extreme temperatures and conditions it will experience during its journey to space. In addition, the spacecraft recently completed a reverberant acoustics test and sine vibration test, designed to expose it to the sound and vibrations it will experience during a launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket in 2024.

Whether you’re someone who strives to be nice or you’re trying to figure out what makes that selfless acquaintance of yours tick, understanding what a truly nice person looks like is helpful in navigating relationships and achieving personal growth. The key to niceness is consideration and mindfulness. Here are eight traits of a genuinely nice person:

They treat everyone with respect. Nice people are accepting of others, regardless of their values, beliefs, or feelings. They listen to others attentively and offer a helping hand.

Despite being busy with their own lives, they make an effort to connect with others. They’re friendly and kind to strangers, coworkers, friends, and family alike. They also extend kindness and compassion to those who have wronged them.

These people always want to do right by others. They’re willing to go above and beyond to help those who need it, even if it means they may not get what they want in return. They prioritize fairness and equality in everything they do.

They are selfless and never put themselves above anyone else. People who are genuinely nice never let their own needs and wants get in the way of being there for those who matter most to them. They know that there’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re a burden to those closest to you.

When they do something wrong, they own up to it and work to fix it. They’re also not afraid to give constructive feedback when they feel it would be beneficial to the recipient.

Being a good person isn’t just about being nice, it’s also about having strength of character, having a well-developed intellect, and showing courage. Niceness is a valuable trait, but it shouldn’t be seen as full compensation for other qualities.

Nice people have the ability to put themselves in other’s shoes. They’re empathetic and compassionate, and they try to understand where others are coming from when they disagree. They’re able to empathize with their own frustrations and aren’t easily offended.

Practicing small acts of kindness, such as holding the door for a coworker or complimenting a friend, triggers a positive emotional response in us. This is because it boosts our serotonin and oxytocin levels, two neurotransmitters that play a crucial role in mood stability. This one-two punch of happiness and wellbeing is why being nice makes you feel so good. When you’re in a bad mood, doing something kind can instantly lift your spirits. It’s a simple, yet effective, way to manage negative emotions. Plus, it can help reduce stress and improve your mood. So next time you’re feeling a little blue, do something nice for someone and see how it makes you feel. You might be surprised at how rewarding it is! It just might make you want to do it all the time.