A new fleet of NASA satellites launching next year aim to help scientists predict hurricane intensities.

The Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) is a that will measure ocean surface winds after it launches in October 2016, according to NASA.

Eight satellites will deploy from the main CYGNSS module above Earth.

(University of Michigan )

With that data, NASA scientists can better understand air to sea interactions that occur in the eyes of storms.

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When it comes to following the track of a hurricane, science has progressed in the last two decades, whereas predicting the intensity of a storm is still lackluster. Data retrieved by , Popular Science reports.

"The ability to forecast the track of the hurricane has been steadily improving over the past 25 years," University of Michigan atmospheric scientist Chris Ruf told the magazine. "But the forecasting for intensity hasn't really improved at all."

Researchers hope to change that.

As NASA explains, CYGNSS will use GPS signals to get accurate readings of wind speeds in the eye of a storm, regardless of rain, which typically obstructs sensors. That information will then act as a trustworthy predictor for how strong a storm will become.

Coupled with both the predicted intensity and expected track of a hurricane, forecasters could prevent the next Katrina and avoid catastrophic loss of life, not to mention billions of dollars in damages.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Hurricanes from Space

Hurricane Igor is featured in this Sept. 14, 2010, image photographed by an Expedition 24 crew member on the International Space Station. (NASA)