Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor

{{short description|ISS-based upper-atmospheric lightning observation project}}

Image:Upperatmoslight1.jpg and electrical-discharge phenomena]]

Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) is a project led by the European Space Agency to place cameras and X-ray/γ-ray detectors on the International Space Station to observe the upper atmosphere in order to study sprites, jets and elves and terrestrial gamma-ray flashes in connection with thunderstorms.{{Cite web |url=https://earth.esa.int/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/i/iss-asim |title=ISS Utilization: ASIM (Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor) |work=eoPortal |publisher=European Space Agency |accessdate=8 April 2018}} It is hoped that measurements of these phenomena from space will contribute to the understanding of Earth's upper atmosphere.{{cite conference |url=https://cdaw.gsfc.nasa.gov/publications/ilws_goa2006/448_Neubert.pdf |title=The Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) for the International Space Station |conference=International Living With a Star Workshop. 19-24 February 2006. Goa, India. |first1=T. |last1=Neubert |first2=I. |last2=Kuvvetli |first3=C. |last3=Budtz-Jørgensen |first4=N. |last4=Østgaard |first5=V. |last5=Reglero |first6=N. |last6=Arnold |display-authors=1 |date=2006 |bibcode=2006ilws.conf..448N}}

The ASIM components, originally planned to be completed in 2014, were launched on 2 April 2018 and mounted on the Columbus External Payload Facility on 13 April 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43585113 |title=Hunting mystery giant lightning from space |work=BBC News |first=Mary |last=Halton |date=7 April 2018 |accessdate=7 April 2018}} Danish tech company Terma A/S is running the technical part of the project for ESA{{cite news |url=http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Terma_To_Head_ASIM_Observatory_For_ISS_999.html |title=Terma to Head ASIM Observatory for ISS |work=Space Travel |date=27 August 2010 |accessdate=7 April 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.terma.com/press/news-2016/asim/ |title=Largest Space Project for Terma |publisher=Terma A/S |date=26 September 2016 |accessdate=7 April 2018 |archive-date=26 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326202326/https://www.terma.com/press/news-2016/asim/ |url-status=dead }} and DTU Space (National Space Institute) from the Technical University of Denmark provides the scientific leadership of the project.{{cite web |url=http://www.space.dtu.dk/english/Research/Projects/ASIM |title=ASIM: Climate and giant lightning discharges to be studied from the International Space Station |publisher=DTU Space |first=Torsten |last=Neubert |date=2 February 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024135208/http://www.space.dtu.dk/english/Research/Projects/ASIM |archivedate=24 October 2015 |url-status=dead}} Mission operations will be performed by the Belgian User Support and Operations Centre (B.USOC) in Uccle, Belgium.{{cite web |url=http://www.busoc.be/news/17/ |title=B.USOC role in the ASIM operations on the ISS |publisher=Belgian User Support and Operations Centre |date=30 June 2014 |accessdate=7 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409044321/http://www.busoc.be/news/17/ |archive-date=9 April 2018 |url-status=dead }}

First results from the measurements revealed that gamma ray bursts form when powerful electric fields course through the atmosphere, just before a lightning bolt travels along the same path. These results were published in July 2019.{{cite journal |title=Space station re-entry, Moon tapes and Ebola emergency |journal=Nature |date=24 July 2019 |volume=571 |issue=7766 |pages=452–453 |doi=10.1038/d41586-019-02240-0 |pmid=31341316 |bibcode=2019Natur.571..452. |doi-access=free }}