A new American weather satellite could save more livesby better predicting extreme weather conditions.The satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral,in the state of Florida, on November 19.It will be in orbit some 36,000 kilometers above Earth's surface.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,also known as NOAA, has been workingwith the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on the project.NOAA officials are calling the new satellite GOES-R.That is short for a much longer name-- the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite – R Series.NOAA said GOES-R could improve the nation's abilityto observe weather conditions and make weather predictions.It said the satellite's deployment would lead to more exactand timely weather forecasts, watches and warnings.The government agency said the satellite will require testingof its six instruments and will be ready to work "within a year.""The next generation of weather satellites is finally here,"said NOAA Administrator Kathryn Sullivan.She described GOES-R as one of the mostsophisticated Earth-observing machines ever created.Sullivan said its instruments will be able to study Earthfive times faster and with four times more detailthan any other NOAA satellite currently in operation.She believes this will make the United States an even stronger,more "Weather-Ready" nation.A NOAA statement said the greater detail willhelp improve the agency's study of ocean storms,as well as "the prediction and warnings of severe weather."In addition, GOES-R will be able to provide improved rainfall estimates,which will lead to more timely and detailed flood warnings.The statement also said that GOES-R will give better estimates of wind strength,as well as better measurement of fog, ice or lightning strikes.One of the six instruments on the satelliteis designed to help scientists study lightning strikes and map them.This, NOAA says, will help the agency follow the movementof severe storms and provide more detailed warnings.Craig Fugate serves as administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.He says that the GOES-R satellite will improve the abilityof people and organizations across Americato prepare for, and react to, weather-related disasters.Fugate feels that better understanding of the world around us will lead to better results.These include knowing where to best position supplies before a storm hitsand providing more targeted information to local officials.That information could help the officials decidewhen to order civilians to leave an area because of bad weather.In addition to weather forecasting,GOES-R will be part of an international search and rescue network.It will have a "special transponder"that will be able to find signals from emergency beacons.