Pegasus launches small satellites

The Orbital ATK Pegasus XL rocket had its first flight in almost three and a half years when it launched eight satellites for NASA. These small satellites are part of NASA's plan to collect data for hurricane forecasting. The satellites are meant to collect more efficient data about hurricanes in order to better understand their causes as well as track them. These eight satellites make up NASA's Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) NASA reported late Dec. 15 that it had established contact with all eight satellites as they made passes over ground stations. 

According to Space News, The L-1011 aircraft carrying the Pegasus XL took off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 7:38 a.m. Eastern and released the rocket 59 minutes later, at an altitude of about 11,900 meters. The rocket ignited its solid-fuel motor and began its ascent, releasing its payload of eight satellites over a 90-second period about 13 minutes after launch.

The CYGNSS will detect signals from Global Positioning Systems that are reflected off the oceans in tropical regions, measuring the the amount of scattering of the signals to calculate the roughness of the oceans and the wind speeds on the surface. Scientists believe that the data collected will help improve accurate forecasts of their development. The CYGNSS is a tool that will provide the scientists with 24/7 coverage of the tropical cyclone zone and it will improve common knowledge about how hurricanes grow.