NASA successfully launches CYGNSS constellation of cyclone observing satellites

US space agency NASA launched a constellation of eight small satellites on Thursday designed to aid weather forecasters in understanding and predicting hurricane intensity. The eight observatories comprising the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System ( CYGNSS) were delivered to a low-Earth orbit by the US aerospace firm Orbital ATK’s Pegasus XL rocket at 8.37 a.m. (local time), Xinhua news agency reported. Rich Straka, Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK’s Launch Vehicles Division said, “We are proud to provide another successful Pegasus launch for our NASA customer Congratulations to the NASA CYGNSS and Orbital ATK teams on another great mission.” The rocket and its micro-satellite payload were air-launched from Orbital ATK’s modified L-1011 aircraft, nicknamed Stargazer, which first flew to about 39,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean and then released the rocket. NASA said the $157 million CYGNSS mission will team up with the Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation to measure ocean surface winds in and near the eye of the storm throughout the life cycle of hurricanes. “This will be the first time that satellites can peer through heavy tropical rainfall into the middle of hurricanes and predict how intense they are before and during landfall,” it added. The launch was executed in an unusual style. Instead of a ground based rocket with the payload, a launch vehicle was released mid air from a plane. The Pegasus rocket was in free fall for a few seconds before its motors fired and it re-oriented itself skyward. NASA successfully established contact with all 8 satellites after the launch. With Inputs from IANS