Ionospheric Connection Explorer
Encyclopedia
Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) is a proposed mission in NASA's Explorer program
designed to study the variability of Earth's ionosphere
. That variability can interfere with communications and geopositioning signals. The principal investigator is Thomas Immel of the University of California, Berkeley
.
Explorer program
The Explorer program is a United States space exploration program that provides flight opportunities for physics, heliophysics, and astrophysics investigations from space. Over 90 space missions have been launched from 1958 to 2011, and it is still active...
designed to study the variability of Earth's 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...
. That variability can interfere with communications and geopositioning signals. The principal investigator is Thomas Immel of the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.