Pegasus rocket launches C/NOFS satellite
{{date|April 16, 2008}}
[[Image:SORCE launch.jpg|thumb|right|200px|An earlier ''Pegasus'' launch. (Credit: NASA)]]
A [[w:Pegasus-XL|Pegasus-XL]] carrier rocket, air-launched by a [[w:Lockheed L-1011|Lockheed L-1011 TriStar]] flying from [[w:Kwajalein Atoll|Kwajalein Atoll]] in the [[Marshall Islands]], has placed the much-delayed [[w:C/NOFS|C/NOFS]] satellite into a [[w:low Earth orbit|low Earth orbit]].

C/NOFS, which stands for '''Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System''', will investigate and forecast scintillations in the Earth's ionosphere, which are responsible for degradation of signals from navigation and communications satellites. It was originally scheduled to launch in 2003, but owing to a string of delays, it was finally launched at 17:01 GMT today. It will be operated by the [[w:Air Force Research Laboratory|Air Force Research Laboratory]] and [[w:Space Test Program|Space Test Program]] offices of the [[United States]] [[w:United States Air Force|Air Force]].

The launch was conducted by [[w:Orbital Sciences Corporation|Orbital Sciences Corporation]]. It is the first launch of a ''Pegasus'' rocket in almost a year. The next ''Pegasus'' is scheduled to launch in July, with [[w:NASA|NASA]]'s [[w:IBEX|IBEX]] satellite. The launch of C/NOFS is the 17<sup>th</sup> launch to orbit [[w:2008 in spaceflight|this year]] and the 39<sup>th</sup> orbital ''Pegasus'' launch.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/cnofs.shtml
|title=Pegasus Mission #39: C/NOFS
|author=
|pub=Orbital Sciences Corporation
|date=April 16, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/pegasus/cnofs/
|title=Satellite launched to forecast communication outages 
|author=
|pub=Spaceflight Now
|date=April 16, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080416006241&newsLang=en
|title=Orbital Successfully Launches Pegasus Rocket Carrying U.S. Air Force’s C/NOFS Satellite
|author=Barron Beneski
|pub=Business Wire
|date=April 16, 2008}}

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[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:Marshall Islands]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Micronesia]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:North America]]
An earlier Pegasus launch. (Credit: NASA)
A Pegasus-XL carrier rocket, air-launched by a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar flying from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, has placed the much-delayed C/NOFS satellite into a low Earth orbit.

C/NOFS, which stands for 'Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System', will investigate and forecast scintillations in the Earth's ionosphere, which are responsible for degradation of signals from navigation and communications satellites. It was originally scheduled to launch in 2003, but owing to a string of delays, it was finally launched at 17:01 GMT today. It will be operated by the Air Force Research Laboratory and Space Test Program offices of the United States Air Force.

The launch was conducted by Orbital Sciences Corporation. It is the first launch of a Pegasus rocket in almost a year. The next Pegasus is scheduled to launch in July, with NASA's IBEX satellite. The launch of C/NOFS is the 17th launch to orbit this year and the 39th orbital Pegasus launch.
Space Science and technology Marshall Islands United States Micronesia Oceania North America