# C/NOFS

> military satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q1022621](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1022621)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/NOFS)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/c-nofs

## Summary
C/NOFS (Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System) was a military satellite launched on April 16, 2008. Designed for military purposes, it was deployed using an air-launched Pegasus rocket. The satellite remained operational until its orbital decay and atmospheric entry on November 28, 2015.

## Key Facts
- **Full Name**: Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System.
- **Classification**: Military satellite (artificial satellite used for military purposes).
- **Launch Date**: April 16, 2008.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Pegasus (an air-launched rocket system).
- **COSPAR ID**: 2008-017A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 32765.
- **Mission End**: Atmospheric entry on November 28, 2015.
- **3D Model**: A digital STL model of the satellite is available for viewing.

## FAQs
### Q: What does the acronym C/NOFS stand for?
A: C/NOFS stands for Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System. It served as a military satellite.

### Q: How was C/NOFS launched into space?
A: The satellite was launched on April 16, 2008, using a Pegasus rocket. The Pegasus is a specific class of air-launched rockets that has been in operation since 1987.

### Q: When did the C/NOFS mission end?
A: The mission concluded when the satellite underwent atmospheric entry and orbital decay on November 28, 2015.

## Why It Matters
C/NOFS represents a specific class of military technology dedicated to the analysis and forecasting of communication and navigation environments. As the "Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System," the entity embodies the intersection of space-based assets and operational military utility, suggesting a role in monitoring the ionosphere or signal propagation conditions critical for defense operations.

The mission is notable for its complete lifecycle documentation within international space catalogs (COSPAR and SCN). Its deployment via the Pegasus air-launched rocket system highlights a specific launch strategy often used for specialized or smaller payloads that require flexible launch locations. The availability of a 3D model (`.stl`) for the satellite also distinguishes it as an entity with accessible digital preservation data, allowing for detailed visualization of its structure.

## Notable For
- **Specialized Military Function**: Explicitly classified as a military satellite designed for forecasting communication and navigation outages.
- **Air-Launched Deployment**: Utilized the Pegasus rocket system, a distinct launch method where the rocket is released from an aircraft.
- **Complete Lifecycle Tracking**: Possesses distinct records for both its launch (2008) and its final atmospheric entry (2015).
- **Digital Preservation**: Has an associated 3D model file available in Wikimedia Commons, facilitating detailed public viewing of the hardware.

## Body

### Mission Profile
C/NOFS was launched on April 16, 2008, designated under the COSPAR ID 2008-017A and Satellite Catalog Number 32765. Its primary classification was that of a military satellite. The mission duration lasted over seven years, concluding with the satellite's decay from orbit.

### Launch System
The satellite was delivered to orbit by a Pegasus launch vehicle. The Pegasus system is an air-launched rocket capable of deploying payloads into low Earth orbit. This method of launch is a distinguishing feature of the C/NOFS deployment log.

### Orbital Decay
According to structured data records, the operational life of C/NOFS ended on November 28, 2015. On this date, the significant event of "atmospheric entry" occurred, marking the time of the object's orbit decay.

### Identifiers and Media
The entity is tracked across multiple databases via specific identifiers:
- **Freebase ID**: /m/04058s9
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code**: Entity["Satellite", "32765"]

Visual and structural data for the satellite are preserved in the public domain, including a primary image hosted on Wikimedia Commons and a corresponding 3D model file (`CNOFS-comp-2012-1.stl`).

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report