CYGNSS Smallsat Mission Design, Engineering Performance and Science Results

The eight smallsat CYGNSS constellation was launched into low Earth orbit on 15 Dec 2016. Each satellite carries a four channel bistatic radar receiver which measures GPS signals scattered from the Earth surface, from which surface roughness and wind speed are determined over ocean and soil moisture and inland flooding are determined over land. The mission architecture and satellite design are presented and related to the resulting science data products and their applications. Examples are presented of early onorbit engineering commissioning, calibration and validation of the science data products, and some recent scientific results and applications.