NASA On Air: NASA Launches CYGNSS: Eight Eyes-in-the-Sky for Better Hurricane Forecasts (12/15/2016)

  • Released Thursday, December 15, 2016
  • Updated Monday, July 9, 2018 at 1:32PM
  • ID: 12447

LEAD: [Today, 12/15/2016] NASA launched eight small satellites to help hurricane forecasters give advanced warnings of hurricane strength.

1. The group of small satellites, with 5-foot solar panels, will fly 300 miles above the Earth in a string 12 minutes apart.

2. Because the system detects the relatively long wavelength of reflected signals from existing GPS satellites, it can measure surface winds underneath the torrential hurricane rains.

TAG: Hurricane scientists expect the critical wind data will help them better forecast the intensification of hurricanes.

For More Information

See http://www.nasa.gov/hurricanes



Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center



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