On Friday, August 7th, 2020, NASA’s Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) mission officially retired after 14 years of observing ‘noctilucent’ clouds at the edge of space.
Noctilucent clouds are the highest clouds in Earth’s atmosphere, occurring near the edge of space, 80 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. These clouds, which form above mesospheric regions, are unique in that they are composed of tiny ice crystals that are visible only during twilight hours. For years, scientists have been curious about why these clouds appear and have monitored them in order to better understand their atmospheric impacts.
NASA’s AIM mission was created as a way to observe and study noctilucent clouds in order to gain more insight into their structure and behavior. Launched in 2007, it was the only mission dedicated to studying noctilucent clouds from space. Since then, AIM studied their effects on other atmospheres and their potential impacts on Earth’s climate.
Using a combination of cameras, instruments, and instruments, AIM captured the data necessary for scientists to analyze the clouds and their effects. The mission has made many key scientific discoveries, such as discovering how the clouds vary with temperature and solar activity, helping explain why the clouds form and evolve differently in different regions of the world.
AIM has also been an invaluable asset in helping scientists study the potential Earth-related impacts of these high-altitude clouds. Through its observations, AIM has assisted in not only understanding the clouds further, but also predicting their effects on Earth’s climate.
Now, after 14 years of invaluable service, AIM has retired and its mission has ended. The data that has been gathered during its lifetime will continue to be analyzed, helping shape our current understanding of how noctilucent clouds form and their potential impacts.
AIM’s mission has been an important and necessary contribution to the field of atmospheric science, and will be remembered for years to come.
