1
00:00:06,310 --> 00:00:07,290
What is GOLD?

2
00:00:07,310 --> 00:00:11,730
 The GOLD mission stands for Global Observations of the Limb and Disk 

3
00:00:11,750 --> 00:00:16,090
and it’s a very important mission for us to understand the upper atmosphere of the Earth 

4
00:00:16,110 --> 00:00:20,500
- the thermosphere and ionosphere of the Earth. 

5
00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:21,450
Why is learning about the ionosphere important?

6
00:00:21,470 --> 00:00:25,680
It’s very important for us to understand the ionized portion of the atmosphere

7
00:00:25,700 --> 00:00:28,210
- the ionosphere - as well as the upper atmosphere

8
00:00:28,230 --> 00:00:33,680
because that’s where satellites are, low Earth-orbiting satellites, are orbiting in that region. 

9
00:00:33,700 --> 00:00:37,050
Astronauts are exploring that region, 

10
00:00:37,070 --> 00:00:42,510
as well as the communication and navigation signals travel through that region.

11
00:00:42,530 --> 00:00:47,310
And so when you have disruptions in the ionosphere and variability in the ionosphere

12
00:00:47,330 --> 00:00:51,740
that can affect our navigation and communication systems. 

13
00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:53,920
What does NASA hope to achieve with the GOLD and ICON missions?

14
00:00:53,940 --> 00:00:57,320
NASA hopes to achieve with the GOLD and ICON missions 

15
00:00:57,340 --> 00:01:00,660
a better understanding of, of the near-Earth space 

16
00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,570
that’s so important for our global infrastructure. 

17
00:01:04,590 --> 00:01:06,620
What will we learn from the GOLD and ICON missions?

18
00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:10,520
Ultimately the science that we learn from GOLD and ICON

19
00:01:10,540 --> 00:01:15,670
will help us be able to predict the near-Earth environment that affects,

20
00:01:15,690 --> 00:01:23,780
affects our communication and navigation signals and capability. 

21
00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,810
But also how space weather affects the upper atmosphere, 

22
00:01:27,830 --> 00:01:30,720
 which can translate to effects on the ground

23
00:01:30,740 --> 00:01:37,077
in terms of our power systems and our navigation systems down below.