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CYGFM05

CYGFM05 is one of the small spacecraft in NASA's Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System, or CYGNSS. The constellation measures ocean-surface winds inside and near tropical cyclones by observing reflections of GPS signals from the sea surface.

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Object identity

NORAD ID
41884
COSPAR ID
2016-078A
Operator
Not listed
Country
Not listed
Launch date
Not listed

Immediate discovery

Why this satellite matters

CYGNSS uses bistatic radar geometry: GPS satellites transmit the signal, the ocean reflects it, and CYGNSS receives the reflection. Surface roughness changes the reflected signal in ways that can be related to wind speed.

Understanding the mission

Science and engineering ideas

CYGNSS uses bistatic radar geometry: GPS satellites transmit the signal, the ocean reflects it, and CYGNSS receives the reflection. Surface roughness changes the reflected signal in ways that can be related to wind speed.

Mission

Mission and purpose

Weather spacecraft carry instruments that observe Earth and its atmosphere in visible, infrared, microwave, or other wavelengths. Different orbits provide either repeated regional views or broad global coverage.

  • CYGNSS uses bistatic radar geometry: GPS satellites transmit the signal, the ocean reflects it, and CYGNSS receives the reflection. Surface roughness changes the reflected signal in ways that can be related to wind speed.

Design

Engineering

CYGNSS uses bistatic radar geometry: GPS satellites transmit the signal, the ocean reflects it, and CYGNSS receives the reflection. Surface roughness changes the reflected signal in ways that can be related to wind speed.

Real orbital values

The mathematics

The current two-line element set reports approximately 15.6067 revolutions per day. Dividing 1,440 minutes by that value gives an estimated orbital period of 92.3 minutes.

Period

92.3 min

Representative speed

27,636 km/h

Representative altitude

393 km

Inclination

34.96°

These are representative calculations derived from current orbital elements, not fixed physical specifications. Altitude and speed change around an elliptical orbit, and predictions change as new orbital elements are published.

Launch record

Launch and deployment

CYGNSS's eight microsatellites launched together on 15 December 2016 aboard a Pegasus XL dropped from an L-1011 aircraft over the Atlantic east of Florida.

TransitSatellite does not estimate historical launch weather. Temperature, clouds, wind, holds, and scrub reasons will appear only when supported by traceable historical sources.

Orbit

LEO orbit explained

Low Earth orbit is the region closest to Earth used by most crewed spacecraft, many science missions, Earth-observation satellites, and large constellations. Objects move quickly and commonly complete an orbit in roughly 90 to 130 minutes.

LEO can provide detailed Earth views, lower communications delay, and easier access than higher orbits, but it covers less area per spacecraft and is more affected by atmospheric drag.

Live TransitSatellite experience

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Learning

Questions to explore

  • Why can infrared instruments observe clouds at night?
  • What is the difference between continuous regional coverage and global coverage?

Evidence

Sources and data notes

Current identity and orbital elements come from CelesTrak’s public GP data. Calculated orbit values are derived from the current TLE and may change after catalog updates. Mission-history claims are added separately and require authoritative sources.

Catalog updated

Sep 17, 2026, 7:50 AM UTC

Story review

1970-01-01T00:00:00.000Z