Whether it is for sport, fun or transportation, millions of people worldwide enjoy the bicycle. This two-wheeled vehicle, which is a form of locomotion, is incredibly simple yet extraordinarily effective. Its popularity can be attributed to its effectiveness, simplicity and affordability. Bicycles also have a positive impact on the environment, reducing traffic congestion and pollution.

In 1817, German professor Baron Karl von Drais invented the first bicycle (the name comes from the Latin word velocipedes meaning “hobby horse”). This bike was made of wood with two wheels and could be steered by turning the handlebars. It sparked the imagination of many inventors, who tried to make it more efficient.

In the 1860s, French speakers coined the terms “bicyclette” and “velocipede.” The word combines the words “bi-,” meaning two, and “cycle,” meaning wheel. The bike became an international craze, and in 1895 American newspaper publisher William Henry Draper wrote a sensational story about the invention of the bicycle, which went on to become a best-seller.

The advent of the bicycle touched virtually every aspect of life. It changed art, music, literature and even fashion. It reshaped the human gene pool, as parish records show a boom in intervillage marriages during the bicycle craze of the 1890s. And it revolutionized transportation, making it possible for ordinary people to go places they had never dreamed of.

Bicycles are very simple machines, consisting of a seat, two wheels and a metal chain connecting the pedals to the rear wheel. The rider uses his or her feet to push on the pedals, and the cranks turn the chain, which then turns the wheel, propelling the cyclist forward. The bicycle can be fitted with pegs that can be used to perform tricks, or to provide a place for an extra rider or cargo. Most modern bikes are made of steel, with the exception of racing bicycles that use carbon fiber or titanium.

When riding a bike, always obey the law and keep your eyes on the road at all times. It is important to yield to pedestrians and other vehicles, especially when turning at intersections or driveways. Always check your mirrors and look behind before turning right on red. If you are driving a car, be aware that some bicycles may travel faster than you expect. Always slow down and allow plenty of time to pass a cyclist. When possible, ride a bike to work, school and other destinations. Bicycling is great exercise, and it has been proven to be good for the heart and brain. It also has the added advantage of doing much less damage to roads than cars do. Lastly, it is a lot of fun! Regardless of the age or physical condition, everyone can find a way to enjoy a bicycle. Children especially love their first bicycles, and the memories of those moments will last a lifetime. In fact, some of the most memorable childhood memories involve cycling with friends or a parent.

A go is the action of moving or starting to move. The verb form of this is go, as in “I went to the store,” or “he is going to play tennis.” “Go” can also be used as a prefix, such as with the phrase “to go”, meaning to begin or finish something.

In the classroom, “go” is often taught as an introductory action verb with a focus on movement and action. It is also one of the most common prefixes to express time. For example, “as the sun goes down” means that it is beginning to get dark outside. “To go” can also be used as a rephrasing of “to come”, as in “I am coming to pick you up at 5:30.”

The GOES-T launch continues the successful relationship between NOAA and ULA. Since its formation more than 15 years ago, the partnership has launched every GOES satellite and every NOAA meteorological mission using Atlas and Delta rockets. This ties with the long-standing history of NASA’s geostationary operational environmental satellite (GOES) program that began in 1974.

GOES-T will feature several advanced instruments, including the Advanced Baseline Imager, which views Earth with three times more spectral channels and five times faster scanning than previous GOES satellites. It will also feature the Geostationary Lightning Mapper, which can detect lightning at night and improve storm hazard forecasting. Other instruments will monitor space weather events such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CME) that can disrupt satellite communication and reduce navigational accuracy for high altitude airlines, airplanes and power grids on Earth.

In April, GOES-16 and -17 switched to a new flex mode called mode 6 that produces full disk images of the contiguous United States (CONUS) and Pacific U.S. (PACUS) every 10 minutes, compared to the earlier 15-minute mode 3. This mode provides imagery for key meteorological conditions such as cloud motions and precipitation.

In September, the GOES-S suite of instruments—including SUVI and EXIS—were delivered for integration with the satellite’s solar-pointing platform. In addition, the System Module—the brain of the satellite—was mated to the solar-pointing module in October, and the body module, which contains all other satellite components, was delivered in November. The GOES-S modules will be integrated and tested together as the spacecraft itself in 2022. During this period, the spacecraft will be trained to fly in its orbital slot and perform critical post-launch operations such as separation from the launch vehicle and instrument activation. The GOES-T spacecraft will also undergo a variety of other tests. These include vibration testing to ensure the spacecraft can withstand shocks during the launch and deployment of the solar panels, as well as acoustic testing that will use high-intensity horns to simulate the noise created when the satellite separates from its launch vehicle. Finally, electromagnetic testing will ensure that the satellite’s sensors are protected from interference caused by stray electromagnetic signals. These tests are ongoing, and all of these milestones will be accomplished before the satellite’s launch in 2024.