NASA’s
latest super-sophisticated storm-sensor, the GOES-O, succeeded before
it ever left Earth - detecting thunderstorms before being launched.
Technically it “detected” them by being delayed, as wimpy
non-Michael-Bay NASA scientists don’t believe in firing massive Delta
IV rockets through lightning bolts, but now it’s in orbit and keeping
an electronic eye out for storms - both surface and solar.
The
Geostationary Operational Environment Satellites is a network of
weather-watchers with the GOES-O being the fourteenth. Construction
and launch of the latest satellite cost a cool half-billion (including
the half-million kilogram launch vehicle), but the payback is
priceless: up to the minute environmental information on Earth.
Much
of the data is planet-centric, ranging from almost-live coverage of
weather and the formation of storm-systems to wider-ranging scans
covering 60% of the planet. Other instruments keep an eye on larger
targets, such as solar storm systems which could disrupt communications
or affect the environment. GOES is part of mankind’s ever-expanding
ability to actually see the big picture - all we have to do now is
convince everyone to look at it.
Posted by Luke McKinney
Image is GOES-O Delta IV booster erection photo from 2-25-09; Credited to NASA Jim Grossmann
GOES-O is GO http://www.physorg.com/news165386205.html
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