Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere
Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere was a NASA Small Explorer mission led scientifically from Hampton University to determine why polar mesospheric clouds form and why they change. Three complementary instruments mapped the clouds, measured their ice particles and atmospheric environment, and sampled cosmic dust entering the upper atmosphere.
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Identity
- Aliases
- AIMExplorer 90
- Name
- Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere
- Status
- completed
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere was a NASA Small Explorer mission led scientifically from Hampton University to determine why polar mesospheric clouds form and why they change. Three complementary instruments mapped the clouds, measured their ice particles and atmospheric environment, and sampled cosmic dust entering the upper atmosphere.
- Destination
- Near-circular polar Earth orbit at approximately 600 km altitude (97.7° inclination; 375 miles) for observing polar mesospheric (night-shining/noctilucent) clouds and the atmospheric environment where they form
- End Date
- 2023-03-13
- Launch Site
- Outcome
- AIM operated for nearly sixteen years, far beyond its planned two-year mission, and produced a long global record of polar mesospheric clouds and their atmospheric setting. Its observations changed understanding of cloud formation, variability, gravity waves, and coupling between the lower atmosphere and near-space environment. Science operations ended after the spacecraft's aging battery failed; AIM reentered the atmosphere in August 2024.
- Programs
- Start Date
- 2007-04-25
- Vehicle Families
Links
- Official Url
- https://science.nasa.gov/mission/aim/
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 18, 2026 at 15:58:53 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 23, 2026 at 02:38:14 UTC
- Image
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Other
- Affiliations
- Search Name
- Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere AIM Explorer 90
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles