Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31107: Peering into Earth’s Edge: How the Scanning Photometer Maps the Ionosphere and Thermosphere

Earth’s atmosphere is layered, and the outermost ones—ionosphere and thermosphere—are especially important for satellite communications, navigation, and space weather studies. During Expedition 64, NASA researchers launched the Ionosphere Thermosphere Scanning Photometer for Ion-Neutral Studies to explore these vital regions.

Led by experts from Montana State University, Johns Hopkins APL, and SRI, this project used a unique photometer system to measure emissions from the ionosphere and thermosphere. The goal was to observe how charged particles and neutral atoms interact at these high altitudes, where solar radiation constantly bombards the atmosphere.

Understanding this interaction is essential. It influences how GPS signals propagate, how satellites operate, and even how the auroras form. By analyzing these atmospheric layers from the vantage point of the ISS, researchers obtained clearer, continuous data—free from the limitations of ground-based telescopes.

This experiment was a triumph of collaboration across institutions and disciplines, highlighting how coordinated scientific efforts can unlock the secrets of Earth's space boundary layer. And beyond our planet, these insights inform how atmospheres behave on other planets too.

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