NASA Launches The ICON Spacecraft

NASA’s ICON or Ionospheric Connection Explorer has finally been launched into orbit, although few people still hoped for it. The launch has been delayed and postponed several times. ICON’s mission is to study the ionosphere, more precisely to understand how particles behave in that area for further studies.

ICON was carried by a Northrop Grumman aircraft, and it was bonded to a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket. The spacecraft reached an altitude of 39,000 feet, and scientists responsible for the launch are hoping that thus they will figure out how astronomers should deal with ionospheric interference that affects communication signals.

The ionosphere is a dangerous region

Scientists plan to study an aurora-like phenomenon called airglow, to understand more about the ionosphere, which is practically the boundary between Earth and space. Another goal is to understand why the weather from this region can cause premature decay for spacecrafts, as well as radiation-related health risks for astronauts.

Analyzing the ionosphere, which is a compound of the Earth’s atmosphere, is not an easy task since it’s a too low layer for most spacecrafts.

First data will be provided in November

We don’t have long to wait until NASA’s spacecraft finish analyzing the most higher layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. ICON has reached the ionosphere on October 10th, and it will begin its research next month. NASA says that in this rate, the spacecraft will provide the first scientific data also in November.

Nicola Fox, director for heliophysics at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said:

“ICON will be the first mission to simultaneously track what’s happening in Earth’s upper atmosphere and in space to see how the two interact, causing the kind of changes that can disrupt our communications systems.”

It’s nice to see the notorious space agency so active in space exploration, even at a much lower level. Although most people are hoping that NASA will put humans on Mars or will help us encounter advanced and friendly civilizations from other planets, we have to acknowledge that humanity still has a lot to learn even about its own backyard.

 

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