OBSERVATIONS OF PMCS AND AURORA
type: Concept
definition: We propose to coordinate the synchronized observations of Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMC) and aurora between the International Space Station (ISS), ground sites, and satellites. We also propose to coordinate observations from other International Polar Year (IPY) activities that might benefit from ISS observations. The orbit of the ISS takes it to north and south latitudes of 51.6 degrees at altitudes of 400 km. This provides a human operated platform from which to observe artic and Antarctic phenomena on a length scale of half a continent. This compliments ground site observations and satellite data that can be synchronized in both space and time to record seasonal variations. Observations from the ISS offers an above the cloud vantage including wide angle oblique views, sun-glint textures, day-night terminator lighting, and perhaps most important, human guided observations that can fall outside the purview of pre-programmed field of view instrumentation. The ISS offers a unique platform for Antarctic atmospheric observations since it gives repeated coverage circumscribing the continent every few days where cloud cover the general lack of observation sites limits routine ground observations over long periods of time. We propose to use the current observational equipment on ISS including a suite of digital still cameras, standard video cameras, and a medium resolution, fiber optic coupled visible region spectrograph. We are planning the fabrication for use on ISS of an IMAX-sized format, CCD camera optimised for low light level video if funding permits. With the NASA presidential directive for human exploration beyond Earth orbit, NASA is considering astronaut training in polar regions as analogues for human planetary missions. We propose to coordinate these polar analogue activities with ISS observations. Participation in this proposal will be open to all international partners to ISS as well as any other project that wishes to coordinate observations with ISS. All I…
in scheme: projects

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type: Concept