Pegasus to launch Earth science smallsats
Posted: Wed, Apr 2, 2014, 9:55 AM ET (1355 GMT)
NASA has awarded a contract to Orbital Sciences for the launch of a constellation of small satellites that will monitor hurricanes and other tropical storms. Under the deal, announced at the end of last week by NASA and confirmed by Orbital Tuesday, a Pegasus XL rocket will launch the eight Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) satellites in 2016 on a mission based out of Cape Canaveral. The satellites will use direct and reflected GPS signals to study surface winds in and near the cores of hurricanes, collecting data not available from other spacecraft. The $55-million contract is the first award for the venerable Pegasus XL in some time; it last launched NASA's IRIS mission last June and has no other missions on its current manifest.
NASA has awarded a contract to Orbital Sciences for the launch of a constellation of small satellites that will monitor hurricanes and other tropical storms. Under the deal, announced at the end of last week by NASA and confirmed by Orbital Tuesday, a Pegasus XL rocket will launch the eight Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) satellites in 2016 on a mission based out of Cape Canaveral. The satellites will use direct and reflected GPS signals to study surface winds in and near the cores of hurricanes, collecting data not available from other spacecraft. The $55-million contract is the first award for the venerable Pegasus XL in some time; it last launched NASA's IRIS mission last June and has no other missions on its current manifest.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Friday, March 14
Britt, Tuberville talk Space Command and legislative updates for Alabama
Alabama Daily News — 4:24 am ET (0824 GMT) Calls Swell For The U.S. To Invest In Space Superiority
Aviation Week — 4:23 am ET (0823 GMT) Autonomy Has Outpaced International Space Law
War on the Rocks — 4:20 am ET (0820 GMT) Sonic boom expected from SpaceX's second launch this week from Vandenberg SFB
KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo, CA — 4:20 am ET (0820 GMT) X announces Bracket Challenge promising trip to Mars with SpaceX as grand prize
Awful Announcing — 4:19 am ET (0819 GMT) |
