NASA’s Atmospheric Wave Experiment (AWE) is launched to the space station

At 8:28 p.m. EST November 9, 2023 NASAThe Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) was launched by a spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. space x A Falcon 9 rocket participating in NASA’s 29th Commercial Resupply Mission (CRS-29).

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying AWE and more than 6,000 pounds of other cargo, autonomously docked with the International Space Station on November 11 at 5:07 a.m. ET.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, November 9, 2023, on NASA’s 29th commercial resupply service mission to the International Space Station. . Liftoff was at 8:28pm EST.Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Once installed outside the space station, AWE will spend two years studying air undulations known as atmospheric gravitational waves, understanding the flow of energy through Earth’s upper atmosphere and space, and analyzing surface weather. To enable a deeper understanding of the relationship between space weather. .

NASA atmospheric wave experiment

NASA’s Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) is an important scientific effort aimed at improving our understanding of the interaction between Earth’s atmosphere and space weather. This experiment is part of a resupply mission. international space station (ISS) investigates atmospheric gravitational waves and their effects on the upper layers of Earth’s atmosphere.

An artist’s impression of AWE mapping the properties of global mesosphere gravitational waves. Credit: NASA

Main purpose and features of AWE:

1. Research on atmospheric gravity waves: AWE focuses on investigating atmospheric undulations known as atmospheric gravity waves. These waves play an important role in transferring energy from the lower atmosphere to the upper atmosphere.
2. Understanding Earth’s upper atmosphere: By studying these waves, AWE aims to provide insight into the dynamics of Earth’s upper atmosphere. This includes understanding how energy and momentum are transferred and how these processes affect weather both on the ground and in space.
3. Period and location: The experiment will run for two years and will be located outside the ISS. This location allows a perfect vantage point to observe atmospheric phenomena.
4. Innovation: AWE employs advanced sensor and imaging techniques to obtain detailed observations of atmospheric waves. This data is important for developing accurate models of atmospheric behavior.
5. Impact on weather forecasts and climate models: AWE discoveries are expected to significantly contribute to improving weather prediction models and understanding the climate system. By examining the relationship between the lower and upper layers of the atmosphere, AWE could provide new insights into how surface weather affects the space environment.
6. Collaborative efforts: AWE represents a collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, and other international space agencies. This cooperation highlights the importance of international cooperation in space exploration and scientific research.

In summary, NASA’s atmospheric wave experiments not only advance scientific knowledge about Earth’s atmosphere, but also have far-reaching implications for weather forecasting, climate modeling, and our understanding of how Earth’s weather interacts with the broader universe. This is a very important research project. environment.