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AWE Atmospheric Waves Experiment

Mission Facts

Objectives:

  • Understand how atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) vary in space and time
  • Study how AGWs are formed and transported
  • Understand how AGWs affect space weather

Launch: November 9, 2023

Type: Experiment

Our Contributions

SDL provided the following mission activities:

  • Mission management
  • Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper (AMTM) design, build, and test
  • Mission operations center direction
An illustration of the AMTM.

Observing AGWs with AWE

NASA’s AWE is providing the first global characterization of small-scale AGWs that originate in Earth’s lower atmosphere. AWE is unraveling the mystery of how AGWs affect space weather, which can disrupt navigation, tracking, and communication systems.

AGWs are invisible pulses of air mainly caused by disturbances in the troposphere, ranging from strong winds flowing over steep mountains to powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes. As AGWs propagate upward, they grow rapidly in amplitude and can quickly transport energy and momentum from the troposphere into the ionosphere-thermosphere-mesosphere.

The AWE payload consists of a single instrument, the AMTM, attached to the International Space Station in a nadir-viewing configuration. The AMTM instrument is capturing wide field of view nighttime images at the rate of one image per second for two years and is producing high-quality temperature maps of AGWs near the mesopause region using well-characterized infrared emission lines of Earth’s hydroxyl (OH) airglow layer.

Reflections on the Mission

Having been a space nut since I was a child and following the assembly of the ISS for over a decade, it is surreal to be operating an instrument that is attached to it. It is extremely rewarding to see the images from AWE displayed on the software that I developed for the mission operations center.
—Pedro Sevilla, Mission Operations Manager
The highlight of working on AWE was the relationships I formed with great people, and it was fulfilling to be part of the first mission management-level program at SDL.
—Burt Lamborn, SDL Project Manager (from formulation through launch)
My involvement on the AWE program will always be a personal and professional highlight. Contributing to mission efforts and developing partnerships with passionate experts from various NASA centers and universities has been a unique and enjoyable experience.
—Russ Kirkham, SDL Project Manager (post-launch) and Safety & Mission Assurance Manager (through launch)
I’ve wanted to work in the space industry since grade school, and I never thought I’d find my way there through writing. Working on AWE has been an incredible experience. I’m proud to have contributed to such an amazing accomplishment alongside such a talented and brilliant team.
—Nate Lichfield, Technical Writer

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