The NASA Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS): Mission Status

Abstract:

The NASA Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) is a confirmed spaceborne mission scheduled for launch in October 2016 that is specifically designed to study the surface wind structure in and near the inner core of tropical cyclones (TC). CYGNSS consists of a constellation of eight small observatories carried into orbit on a single launch vehicle. Each observatory carries a 4-channel bistatic radar receiver tuned to receive GPS navigation signals scattered from the ocean surface. The eight satellites are spaced approximately twelve minutes apart in the same circular, low inclination orbit plane in order to provide frequent temporal sampling in the tropics. CYGNSS is expected to provide unprecedented temporal resolution and spatial coverage, under all precipitating conditions, and over the full dynamic range of wind speeds experienced in a TC. Mission simulations predict a median(mean) revisit time of 3(7) hours at all locations between 35^o N and 35^o S latitude..

The CYGNSS mission is currently in Phase D assembly, integration and test of the 8 Observatories and Deployment Module. An update on the status of the mission will be presented, including the latest hardware developments, the science algorithms planned for ground processing, and simulations of the expected impact on tropical cyclone forecast skill due to the CYGNSS measurements.