Ionosphere-Thermosphere Storm Probes
Encyclopedia
The Ionosphere-Thermosphere Storm Probes (I-TSP) is a NASA
mission which will study the ionosphere
and the thermosphere
. This mission is part of the Living With a Star
program, the second mission in a pair of geospace missions. The first mission is the Radiation Belt Storm Probes
, which launches in 2012.
, the I-TSP will be a twin spacecraft mission. The mission is to study distributions of ionospheric and thermospheric densities, geomagnetic disturbances, and ionospheric irreularities. This mission relates to the Sun
and solar storms
in that it studies the effects of solar storms
on geospace. This mission can save astronauts and satellites.
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
mission which will study the ionosphere
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is a part of the upper atmosphere, comprising portions of the mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, distinguished because it is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere...
and the thermosphere
Thermosphere
The thermosphere is the biggest of all the layers of the Earth's atmosphere directly above the mesosphere and directly below the exosphere. Within this layer, ultraviolet radiation causes ionization. The International Space Station has a stable orbit within the middle of the thermosphere, between...
. This mission is part of the Living With a Star
Living With a Star
Living With a Star is a NASA scientific program to study those aspects of the connected Sun-Earth system that directly affect life and society. LWS is a crosscutting initiative with goals and objectives relevant to NASA's Exploration Initiative, as well as to NASA's Strategic Enterprises...
program, the second mission in a pair of geospace missions. The first mission is the Radiation Belt Storm Probes
Radiation Belt Storm Probes
The Radiation Belt Storm Probes is a NASA mission under the Living With a Star program. The goal of the LWS program is to develop the scientific understanding necessary to effectively address those aspects of the connected Sun-Earth system that directly affect life and society...
, which launches in 2012.
Mission
Like the Radiation Belt Storm ProbesRadiation Belt Storm Probes
The Radiation Belt Storm Probes is a NASA mission under the Living With a Star program. The goal of the LWS program is to develop the scientific understanding necessary to effectively address those aspects of the connected Sun-Earth system that directly affect life and society...
, the I-TSP will be a twin spacecraft mission. The mission is to study distributions of ionospheric and thermospheric densities, geomagnetic disturbances, and ionospheric irreularities. This mission relates to the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
and solar storms
Solar flare
A solar flare is a sudden brightening observed over the Sun surface or the solar limb, which is interpreted as a large energy release of up to 6 × 1025 joules of energy . The flare ejects clouds of electrons, ions, and atoms through the corona into space. These clouds typically reach Earth a day...
in that it studies the effects of solar storms
Solar flare
A solar flare is a sudden brightening observed over the Sun surface or the solar limb, which is interpreted as a large energy release of up to 6 × 1025 joules of energy . The flare ejects clouds of electrons, ions, and atoms through the corona into space. These clouds typically reach Earth a day...
on geospace. This mission can save astronauts and satellites.
Goals
The Ionosphere-Thermosphere Storm Probes mission has two goals:- Determine the effects of solar variability on the global-scale behavior of ionospheric electron density
- Determine the solar and geospace causes of small scale ionospheric irregularities
See also
- IonosphereIonosphereThe ionosphere is a part of the upper atmosphere, comprising portions of the mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, distinguished because it is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere...
- Radiation Belt Storm ProbesRadiation Belt Storm ProbesThe Radiation Belt Storm Probes is a NASA mission under the Living With a Star program. The goal of the LWS program is to develop the scientific understanding necessary to effectively address those aspects of the connected Sun-Earth system that directly affect life and society...
- Living With a StarLiving With a StarLiving With a Star is a NASA scientific program to study those aspects of the connected Sun-Earth system that directly affect life and society. LWS is a crosscutting initiative with goals and objectives relevant to NASA's Exploration Initiative, as well as to NASA's Strategic Enterprises...
- ThermosphereThermosphereThe thermosphere is the biggest of all the layers of the Earth's atmosphere directly above the mesosphere and directly below the exosphere. Within this layer, ultraviolet radiation causes ionization. The International Space Station has a stable orbit within the middle of the thermosphere, between...