Satellite constellation monitors global and space weather

Six identical microsatellites were successfully launched into a circular low‐Earth orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 0140 UTC on 15 April 2006. Termed the Formosa Satellite 3 and Constellation Observing System for Meteorology Ionosphere, and Climate (FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC) mission, the new constellation's primary science goal is to obtain vertical profiles in nearreal time of temperature, pressure, and water vapor in the neutral atmosphere and electron density in the ionosphere. The observations will be used to support operational global weather prediction, climate monitoring and research, space weather forecasting, and ionospheric research.