Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere

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Aeronomy of Ice in
the Mesosphere (AIM)

Organization	NASA
Mission type	Noctilucent cloud observation
Satellite of	Earth
Orbits	4155 as of January 29, 2008
Launch date	April 25, 2007 at 20:26 UTC
Launch vehicle	Pegasus XL
NSSDC ID	2007-015A
Home page	http://aim.hamptonu.edu
Mass	197 kg
Orbital elements
Semimajor axis	6970 km
Eccentricity	0.001
Inclination	97.9°
Orbital period	96 minutes
Apoapsis	600 km
Periapsis	585 km

Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) is a NASA-funded satellite being used to conduct a 26-month study of noctilucent clouds (NLCs). On April 25, 2007 AIM was boosted into a 600 km high polar orbit by a Pegasus-XL rocket, which was air-launched from a Lockheed L-1011 aircraft.^[1]

The noctilucent clouds AIM is being used to study, also known as polar mesospheric clouds, occur in the Earth's atmosphere at altitudes of roughly 80 kilometres above the surface, far higher than other clouds. The AIM satellite will help determine what factors – temperature, water vapor, and dust particles – lead to the formation of these clouds. The clouds seem to be a relatively recent phenomenon: they were first seen in 1885, and lately seem to be occurring more frequently.^[2]

Spacecraft and instruments

Noctilucent clouds as seen by AIM

AIM is 55 inches (1.4m) tall and 43 inches (1.09m) wide and weighs 430 pounds (192 kg). Solar arrays power the satellite.

AIM carries three instruments: CIPS (Cloud Imaging and Particle Size), CDE (Cosmic Dust Experiment)[1], and SOFIE (Solar Occultation for Ice Experiment).

CIPS has four cameras positioned at different angles. Multiple views of the clouds from different angles will allow a determination of the sizes of the ice particles that make up the cloud. The cameras will also provide panoramic NLC images of the polar cap daily.

CDE can record the amount of space dust that enters the atmosphere from the cosmos. This will allow scientists to determine the role the particles have in NLC formation.

SOFIE uses solar occultation to measure cloud particles, temperature and atmospheric gases involved in forming the clouds. The instrument will reveal the mixture of chemicals that prompt NLC's formation, as well as the environment in which the clouds form.

References

External links

• AIM home
• SOFIE Instrument and science description, view or download data
• AIM Mission Profile by NASA's Solar System Exploration

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