CYGFM06

CYGFM06 is no longer on orbit
CYGFM06 is classified as:

Weather
Space & Earth Science

NORAD ID: 41889

Int'l Code: 2016-078F

Launch date: December 15, 2016
Source: United States (US)
Launch site: Pegasus launched from Eastern Range Air Space (ERAS)
Decay date: 2024-06-13

CYGFM06 is one of the eight research satellites launched by a winged Orbital ATK Pegasus XL rocket to fly around the tropics and return measurements of winds at the cores of hurricanes. The wind data should help scientists better understand the formation, growth and dissipation of tropical cyclones, and lessons from the $157 million Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System may improve hurricane forecasting, particularly the strength of storms at landfall. Researchers compare the way CYGNSS works to the human eye's perception of a full moon reflected in a body of water. Calm winds will make for a perfectly resolved reflection of the moon, while windy conditions will scatter the moon's image in a glistening effect.