C/NOFS

C / NOFS ( Communications / Navigation Outage Forecasting System; Kommunikations-/Navigations-Ausfallsvorhersagesystem ) is a smaller, military research satellite that was developed by General Dynamics to monitor and predict scintillations in the ionosphere of the earth. It was launched on 16 April 2008 with a Pegasus XL rocket, which in turn was started by a carrier aircraft of the type L- 1011. The mission was originally planned already for 2003, but was postponed for various reasons over and over again.

The satellite, which is supported by the Space Test Program of the U.S. Air Force, should the U.S. military a prediction ( for the next four hours) allow the effects of activities in the ionosphere on communications and navigation signals from satellites, which potentially cause problems could result in the application area.

Technology

The 274 kg heavy C / NOFS ( off mass 395 kg ) is based on the satellite bus SA -200B, has a three-axis stabilization system and is equipped with six sensors, including measuring instruments for the determination of electric fields ( Planar Langmuir sample, Vector Electric Field Instrument, Coherent Electromagnetic Radio Tomography) and particle flows (Ion Velocity meter, Neutral Wind meter, Electron density profiles). He was placed in a low earth orbit at 600 to 850 km altitude with an inclination of 13 °. There is also equipment (Neutral Wind Meter ( NWM ) and Ion Velocity Meter ( IVM )) from the CINDI program of NASA on board. The planned life is one year, which are hoped for three years.

Links and Documents

  • Federation of American Scientists: C / NOFS (English)
  • Gunter 's Space Page: C / NOFS (English)
  • Research Satellite ( communication )
  • Military satellite
  • Military Space of the United States
  • NASA
  • Abbreviation
  • Space Mission in 2008
International Designator Kwajalein Atoll Pegasus (rocket) Orbital inclination
195099
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