It is reported that the system will help in better hurricane forecasting by measuring ocean surface winds in and close to eye wall of the typhoons, tropical cyclones and hurricanes all through their life cycle. Communication antennas, angle management, Global Positioning System receiver, and different instrumentation shall be put in on the satellite tv for pc body within the coming weeks.
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In an effort to prevent a reoccurrence of the Hurricane Katrina disaster from ten years ago, NASA is now working on project that will see satellites used to observe hurricanes from space, and improve forecasts of their movements.
Hurricane Katrina is an excellent case in point at just how our lack of understanding of hurricanes can prove costly and deadly, as even though forecasters had a good idea of where the storm would hit and its general intensity, the flooding it caused came as a complete surprise, according to a Discovery News report.
The University of Michigan is looking after the CYGNSS mission, together with satellite design and creation in addition to science data processing.
With all of the technology we have, hurricanes remain incredibly unpredictable which can result in people dying from incorrect forecasts – NASA is hoping to put an end to all that with a fleet of micro-satellites. The Southwest Analysis Institute in San Antonio is constructing and testing the CYGNSS microsatellites and can host the at its Boulder, Colorado location. The physique of every satellite tv for pc measures roughly 20-by-25-by-11 inches, barely bigger than an ordinary carry-on suitcase. So by the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season the satellites will be functional. “
We are now in the last phase of the mission prior to launch and the beginning of a new era in hurricane observations.”
When fully assembled, the satellites will each weigh about 64 pounds. They’re solar powered and when extended, the panels have a span of 5.5 ft (1.6 m).
NASA says it’s only recently begun assembling the satellites, and that they are preparing for tests in early 2016.
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Launched in late 2016 on an Orbital ATK Pegasus XL expendable rocket, the CYGNSS satellite constellation will be integrated into low-Earth orbit with consecutive satellites passing over the same area about every 12 minutes.
