CYGNSS: Enabling the Future of Hurricane Prediction Remote Sensing Satellites

The CYGNSS mission introduces a new paradigm in low-cost Earth science missions that employs a constellation of science-based microsats to fill a gap in capabilities of existing large systems at a fraction of the cost. The CYGNSS observatories will make frequent wind observations, and wind observations in precipitating conditions, using GPS reflectometry to observe the TC inner core ocean surface. These efforts will result in unprecedented coverage of windswithin a TC throughout its life cycle and thus provide critical data necessary for advancing the forecast of TC intensification.