Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE)

Description

The Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) is an infrared mission designed to study the near-global properties and effects of gravity waves as they propagate into Earth’s atmosphere by measuring the spectrum of small scale, 30- to 300-km, gravity waves generated by strong weather disturbances. The science objectives are to quantify the seasonal and regional variabilities and influences of gravity waves near the mesopause, identify the dominant dynamical processes controlling gravity waves, and estimate the wider role of gravity waves in the Mesosphere-Thermosphere-Ionosphere.

AWE accomplishes these goals by deploying high-resolution, 4-channel infrared imaging system on the International Space Station (ISS). The instrument, based on the ground-based Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper (AMTM) by Utah State University, measures selected emission lines in the OH (3,1) band to image gravity waves in the OH airglow layer and to simultaneously estimate atmospheric temperature at the OH layer altitude. The field of view is about 600-km wide.

AWE launched on 10 November 2023 1:28 UT (9 November 8:28 pm EST) from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 39A on a Falcon 9 Full Thrust rocket. The Dragon cargo spacecraft, carrying AWE, autonomously docked with the International Space Station about 33 hours later on 11 November at 10:07 UT (5:07 am EST). After depolyment on the station, AWE will perform nadir-viewing gravity wave measurements using the OH nightglow emission for two years.