The GOES (Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite) program provides vital data for the National Weather Service, providing terrestrial and space weather information to support military and civilian radio wave and satellite communications systems, electric power networks, the missions of Space Station astronauts and high-altitude aviators, and scientific research. The Aerospace Corporation has supported GOES throughout its mission lifecycle and is a key contributor to the upcoming GOES-R series.

Launched in 1975, GOES has evolved through new technological advancements and innovations, becoming essential to U.S. meteorological monitoring and forecasting. The GOES program is jointly operated by NOAA and NASA. NOAA provides the services and science derived from the data gathered by the satellites, while NASA procures, designs, builds and operates the spacecraft.

Today, NOAA maintains a two-satellite operational GOES system with continual coverage of the Western Hemisphere — one at GOES-East (slot at 75o W longitude) and the other at GOES-West (slot at 135o W longitude). The GOES spacecraft are equipped with an Imager and Sounder instrument package that is capable of capturing atmospheric phenomena such as clouds, precipitation, atmospheric motions, surface temperature, ocean color, and solar activity and is capable of detecting the evolution of severe storms.

In addition, GOES-11 through GOES-15 were equipped with the Space Environment Monitoring (SEM) instrument package that monitors solar wind particles and their variations. The SEM instrument package is provided by NOAA/SEC in Boulder, Colorado.

GOES satellites are controlled from NOAA’s Satellite Operations Control Center in Suitland, MD. During significant weather events, the normal GOES observation schedule can be altered to allow increased coverage of a specific region by request from the NWS.

The primary observations from a GOES satellite consist of radiances in a broadband visible and several infrared channels, saved as reflectance [percent] or brightness temperature [Celsius]. Observations are acquired in geostationary orbit, 35,790 kilometres (22,240 miles) above Earth’s surface. The GOES Imaging Spectrograph (ISG) and Atmospheric Sounder (ASS) instruments collect and record information about the atmosphere at different wavelengths, including infrared, visible and microwave. The sensors are able to scan the surface of the Earth continuously, allowing for real-time tracking of the development of severe weather phenomena.

The GOES satellites are equipped with the DCS (Data Collection System) that transmits environmental data to the GOES Space Environment Monitoring system. The DCS onboard the GOES satellites receives transmissions from remote automatic Data Collection Platforms (DCPs), and relays those data to small, ground-based regional data utilization centers via narrowband WEFAX transmissions. The DCS also processes and retransmits a variety of Level 1, Level 2 and higher data products. The geographic information for these data files is stored as tower location coordinates in the ABI fixed grid (horizontal and vertical x and y) and a corresponding tower geodetic latitude/longitude coordinate map to convert from tower geodetic coordinates to ABI scan angle coordinates. For example, to obtain ABI Level 1b and Level 2 products, tower locations are converted from their geodetic latitude/longitude coordinates into ABI horizontal and vertical x and y scan angles.

When you’re nice, people enjoy your company. You’re pleasant, good-natured, and have a sunny disposition. You’re always looking for ways to be helpful to others and can think of countless ways to be kind. You may be able to sense when someone is upset and immediately try to ease the tension or make them feel better. You may offer compliments and apologies freely, listen attentively to others’ concerns, or simply take the time to help out when needed.

Psychologists often describe personality in terms of five broad dimensions, one of which is agreeableness, or the degree to which you get along well with other people and share their values and interests. Niceness can be a part of this trait, as can other positive traits like empathy and compassion. People who are naturally nice tend to have a high level of empathy, which means they can put themselves in other people’s shoes and understand their feelings and experiences.

People who are naturally nice are dependable and honest, and they don’t hide their true feelings or intentions in order to avoid conflict or gain favor. They say what they mean, and they follow through on their promises. Their compliments are sincere, their apologies genuine, and they show a real interest in the lives of those around them.

Nice people have a deep appreciation for the worth and value of every individual. They recognize that everyone has unique experiences, perspectives, and beliefs, even if they don’t fully agree with them. They respect the fact that everyone has a story to tell, and they’re always happy to hear about it.

When they witness cruelty or injustice, nice people unleash a powerful force that refuses to stand idly by. They have a reservoir of inner strength that they can tap into when the moment calls for it, and they’re not afraid to fight for what is right.

Nice people are great at building bridges and fostering harmonious relationships. They know how to find common ground and bring people together, which is why they’re so popular at parties. However, they also know when to draw the line between being nice and being a pushover. They are able to set and maintain healthy boundaries, which ensures that they’re not taken advantage of. They also realize that sometimes it is necessary to tell someone a hard truth, even if it causes them pain in the short term. For example, if you have a friend who’s constantly borrowing money from you, it’s not a good idea to continue being nice and let them continue to drain you of your own finances. This isn’t being nice, it’s being selfish. Nice people have the power to change the world, but they must choose their actions wisely. If they’re nice for the wrong reasons, they will eventually burn themselves out. So remember to be nice because it feels good—and not for the sake of gaining attention or approval. This way, your niceness will truly have a meaningful impact.