NASA sends probe to zone where Earth meets space
October 11, 2019
NASA launched a satellite Thursday to explore the ionosphere, a mysterious part of Earth's atmosphere on the edge of space.
The satellite shot into orbit from a plane flying over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the US state of Florida.
The satellite called Icon, or Ionospheric Connection Explorer, will transmit data intended to help scientists understand the "physical processes at work where Earth's atmosphere interacts with near-Earth space," NASA said.
Research by scientists at NASA has identified this region of "near space" as being in constant flux from solar storms above and weather below.
Read more: Scientists discover water on planet outside solar system
According to NASA, the ionosphere is a fluctuating layer of electrons and charged atoms and molecules ranging from 48 kilometers (30 miles) above the Earth's surface to 965 kilometers (600 miles) above the ground at the edge of space.
"This dynamic region grows and shrinks based on solar conditions,"
Better communications and space missions
NASA said the Icon satellite will transmit data intended to help scientists understand the "physical processes at work where Earth's atmosphere interacts with near-Earth space."
"This protected layer, it's the top of our atmosphere. It's our frontier with space," Nicola Fox, NASA's heliophysics division director, told the Associated Press, adding that the ionosphere is influenced by energy from extreme weather like hurricanes, along with solar storms.
Read more: NASA launches historic Parker Solar Probe to the sun
According to NASA, electron particles in the ionosphere normally reflect radio waves back towards the ground, which enables long-distance radio communication. However, fluctuation in the electron levels can "possibly cause radio communications to fail, reduce the accuracy of GPS systems, damage satellites and harm electrical grids."
The satellite can more directly analyze how solar storms affect Earth, which has implications for astronauts, radio communication, and GPS navigation systems.
NASA administrator, Jim Bridenstine, said in a tweet that the mission will provide "key support" for astronauts on future missions, including potentially returning to the moon.