NASA launched the Quikscat satellite on a Lockheed Martin Titan II from Vandenberg AFB in California, on 20 June. The satellite carries the Seawinds scatterometer payload, which will measure sea wind strength, down to 6kt (11km/h), across 90% of the world's oceans each day. The measurements will allow the development of databases for better warning of hurricanes.
Source: Flight International