Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 5 minutes ago
Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory and USU’s Department of Physics announced NASA’s Atmospheric Waves Experiment has completed the on-orbit data collection phase of its mission. The mission will continue with processing and analyzing images collected during the 30-month on-orbit phase.
At 6:04 p.m. Coordinated Universal Time on May 21, NASA and ground operators at SDL gave final approval to power down the AWE instrument, which the operators implemented and placed the instrument in a safe configuration, signaling the end of its on-orbit mission.
SDL built the AWE instrument and manages the mission for NASA, partnering with USU Physics Professor Ludger Scherliess, the mission’s principal investigator, as well as co-investigators and a multidisciplinary engineering team.
AWE is an International Space Station-mounted Heliophysics Mission of Opportunity designed to study atmospheric gravity waves by imaging Earth’s faint airglow and quantifying how energy and momentum propagate from terrestrial weather into the upper atmosphere, where impacts can couple into space weather conditions. The mission builds on the life’s work of late USU professor Michael Tayor, a pioneer in the study of atmospheric gravity waves that included a heritage of more than two decades of airborne observations.
Understanding space weather disturbances is important because conditions in the ionosphere, roughly 50 to 400 miles above Earth’s surface, influence the performance of satellite-based systems. Variations in atmospheric density and ionospheric structure can disrupt radio signals traveling between satellites and the ground, degrading the accuracy and reliability of navigation, communications, and timing services. These effects can impact applications ubiquitous to everyday life, including GPS navigation, aviation operations, telecommunications networks, and timing signals used in financial systems.
“During its initial 24-month mission, we’ve seen atmospheric wave signatures associated with major terrestrial events, including observations tied to Hurricane Helene on September 26, 2024, which provided a clear example of how intense weather systems can generate measurable upper-atmospheric responses,” said Scherliess. “Data from AWE will continue to be made public for both professional researchers and citizen scientists.” Based on initial data releases, more than 50 science presentations have been delivered worldwide, and many scientific papers are in the process of being published.
The AWE instrument launched Nov. 9, 2023, and installation on the ISS exterior was completed shortly afterward. Following installation and activation, AWE achieved first light on Nov. 22, 2023, its first successful acquisition of gravity-wave imagery from its operational vantage point, confirming instrument performance in the space environment and enabling routine data collection.
“The SDL-built AWE instrument has captured more than 80 million nighttime images, when airglow can be seen, from over 14,000 orbits that are providing new insights into how weather phenomena in Earth’s atmosphere interact with the upper atmosphere and space weather,” said AWE Project Manager Russ Kirkham. “SDL has been proud to work with NASA’s Heliophysics Division, Professor Scherliess, and the science team from USU, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of Colorado Boulder, GATS Inc., the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and the Naval Research Laboratory to document atmospheric gravity waves from a global vantage point not previously available.”
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Since 1888, Utah State University established itself as a premier research institution known through the world for its intellectual and technological leadership. USU’s main campus is in Logan, plus 30 campuses throughout Utah. And as long as WiFi is available, you can be an Aggie anywhere through USU Online.
USU competes in 16 NCAA Division I sports. Our student section, the HURD, is one of the loudest and rowdiest in the nation. The diehards become True Aggies by kissing on the block “A” on Homecoming. Adrenaline junkies sled down Old Main hill between classes or rock climb outside. And everyone eats Aggie Ice Cream — even with a foot of snow on the ground.
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Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory and USU’s Department of Physics announced NASA’s Atmospheric Waves Experiment has completed the on-orbit data collection phase of its mission. The mission will continue with processing and analyzing images collected during the 30-month on-orbit phase.
At 6:04 p.m. Coordinated Universal Time on May 21, NASA and ground operators at SDL gave final approval to power down the AWE instrument, which the operators implemented and placed the instrument in a safe configuration, signaling the end of its on-orbit mission.
SDL built the AWE instrument and manages the mission for NASA, partnering with USU Physics Professor Ludger Scherliess, the mission’s principal investigator, as well as co-investigators and a multidisciplinary engineering team.
AWE is an International Space Station-mounted Heliophysics Mission of Opportunity designed to study atmospheric gravity waves by imaging Earth’s faint airglow and quantifying how energy and momentum propagate from terrestrial weather into the upper atmosphere, where impacts can couple into space weather conditions. The mission builds on the life’s work of late USU professor Michael Tayor, a pioneer in the study of atmospheric gravity waves that included a heritage of more than two decades of airborne observations.
Understanding space weather disturbances is important because conditions in the ionosphere, roughly 50 to 400 miles above Earth’s surface, influence the performance of satellite-based systems. Variations in atmospheric density and ionospheric structure can disrupt radio signals traveling between satellites and the ground, degrading the accuracy and reliability of navigation, communications, and timing services. These effects can impact applications ubiquitous to everyday life, including GPS navigation, aviation operations, telecommunications networks, and timing signals used in financial systems.
“During its initial 24-month mission, we’ve seen atmospheric wave signatures associated with major terrestrial events, including observations tied to Hurricane Helene on September 26, 2024, which provided a clear example of how intense weather systems can generate measurable upper-atmospheric responses,” said Scherliess. “Data from AWE will continue to be made public for both professional researchers and citizen scientists.” Based on initial data releases, more than 50 science presentations have been delivered worldwide, and many scientific papers are in the process of being published.
The AWE instrument launched Nov. 9, 2023, and installation on the ISS exterior was completed shortly afterward. Following installation and activation, AWE achieved first light on Nov. 22, 2023, its first successful acquisition of gravity-wave imagery from its operational vantage point, confirming instrument performance in the space environment and enabling routine data collection.
“The SDL-built AWE instrument has captured more than 80 million nighttime images, when airglow can be seen, from over 14,000 orbits that are providing new insights into how weather phenomena in Earth’s atmosphere interact with the upper atmosphere and space weather,” said AWE Project Manager Russ Kirkham. “SDL has been proud to work with NASA’s Heliophysics Division, Professor Scherliess, and the science team from USU, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of Colorado Boulder, GATS Inc., the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and the Naval Research Laboratory to document atmospheric gravity waves from a global vantage point not previously available.”
–––––––––––
Since 1888, Utah State University established itself as a premier research institution known through the world for its intellectual and technological leadership. USU’s main campus is in Logan, plus 30 campuses throughout Utah. And as long as WiFi is available, you can be an Aggie anywhere through USU Online.
USU competes in 16 NCAA Division I sports. Our student section, the HURD, is one of the loudest and rowdiest in the nation. The diehards become True Aggies by kissing on the block “A” on Homecoming. Adrenaline junkies sled down Old Main hill between classes or rock climb outside. And everyone eats Aggie Ice Cream — even with a foot of snow on the ground.
#7 Best Bang for the Buck in the West - Washington Monthly
#8 Public University in the Nation - Washington Monthly
#11 Best Online Bachelor's Program - U.S. News & World Report
There’s a place for you at Utah State. Join us.
https://usu.edu/admissions/aggielife/
Follow Us
FB: facebook.com/UtahState
IG: instagram.com/USUAggielife
TW: twitter.com/USUAggies
USU is committed to a learning and working environment free from discrimination. For USU’s non-discrimination notice, see equity.usu.edu/non-discrimination.
