WindSat is a satellite-based polarimetric microwave radiometer developed by the Naval Research Laboratory Remote Sensing Division and the Naval Center for Space Technology for the U.S. Navy and the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Integrated Program Office (IPO). WindSat is designed to demonstrate the capability of polarimetric microwave radiometry to measure the ocean surface wind vector from space. It is the primary payload on the Coriolis mission, which is jointly sponsored by the DoD Space Test Program and the U.S. Navy (SPAWAR PMW-180). Spectrum-Astro of Gilbert, Arizona, built the spacecraft. The WindSat/Coriolis mission was launched on a Titan II rocket from Vandenburg Air Force Base on 06 January 2003.TiNi Pinpullers to be used as a launch lock for the GPS antenna calibration pedestal.
http://www.ipo.noaa.gov/Projects/windsat.html
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