After two previous delays, NASA has rescheduled the Pegasus rocket launch for a third attempt on Thursday morning. Orbital ATK's Pegasus rocket is making its latest attempt, carrying NASA's CYGNSS environmental research satellite constellation into orbit. The CYGNSS spacecraft will launch on the Orbital ATK Pegasus rocket at 8:30 a.m. NASA explains that the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS ) is a constellation of eight identical satellites that aims to increase scientific understanding and improve forecasting of tropical cyclones such as hurricanes.
CYGNSS: The Third Attempt, Why Did It Reach To That?
According to reports revealed by Engadget, it was found that the agency's mission was supposed to leave our planet on December 12 and then again on December 14. Unfortunately, the first one had to be delayed due to a problem with the hydraulic pump the controls the release of Orbital ATK's Pegasus rocket from its modified aircraft carrier. NASA reveals that unlike any other typical rockets that are usually being lifted off from the ground, Pegasus was designed to be dropped from an airplane.
Furthermore, the Orlando Sentinel have reported that officials of the said aircraft had been confident that Monday's launch would go off, even sending the jet on its way with a trailing NASA jet following to document the launch. Authorities have further revealed that an issue with the hydraulic pump on its launch vehicle led to the first scrub. It was found that the mission was actually a partnership between NASA, the University of Michigan and the Southwest Research Institute.
Ultimately, NASA claims that once they finally make it to orbit, the CYGNSS microsatellites will fly in formation 316 miles above the planet's surface. They'll measure wind speeds over the oceans to gather data so that scientists can learn how to predict hurricanes a lot better.
