An Orbital ATK L-1011 Stargazer aircraft carrying a Pegasus XL Rocket with eight NASA Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System, or CYGNSS, spacecraft is being readied for takeoff from the Skid Strip at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. With the aircraft flying off shore, the Pegasus rocket will be released. Five seconds later, the solid propellant engine will ignite and boost the eight hurricane observatories to orbit. The eight CYGNSS satellites will make frequent and accurate measurements of ocean surface winds throughout the life cycle of tropical storms and hurricanes.
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NASA ID
KSC-20161215-PH_JBS01_0047
Date Created
December 15, 2016
Center
KSC
Media Type
image
Photographer
NASA/Ben Smegelsky
Location
Skid Strip
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