{ "id": 4610, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4610/", "page_type": "Visualization", "title": "GOLD: Instrument Scanning Coverage", "description": "Visualization of GOLD orbiting Earth with image scanning. This version presents the singly-ionized oxygen density from the IRI model. || IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview3_Oion.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.001400_print.jpg (1024x576) [90.3 KB] || IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview3_Oion.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.001400_searchweb.png (320x180) [79.2 KB] || IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview3_Oion.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.001400_thm.png (80x40) [6.1 KB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/ (1920x1080) [512.0 KB] || IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview4_Oion.HD1080i_p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [38.5 MB] || IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview4_Oion.HD1080i_p30.webm (1920x1080) [10.0 MB] || ", "release_date": "2018-01-19T15:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2023-11-15T00:11:25.756764-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 407532, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004600/a004610/IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview3_Oion.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.001400_print.jpg", "filename": "IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview3_Oion.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.001400_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Visualization of GOLD orbiting Earth with image scanning. This version presents the singly-ionized oxygen density from the IRI model.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 }, "main_video": { "id": 407535, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004600/a004610/IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview4_Oion.HD1080i_p30.mp4", "filename": "IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview4_Oion.HD1080i_p30.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of GOLD orbiting Earth with image scanning. This version presents the singly-ionized oxygen density from the IRI model.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 }, "progress": "Complete", "media_groups": [ { "id": 327961, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4610/#media_group_327961", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Visualization of GOLD orbiting Earth with image scanning. This version presents the singly-ionized oxygen density from the IRI model.", "items": [ { "id": 252146, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 407532, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004600/a004610/IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview3_Oion.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.001400_print.jpg", "filename": "IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview3_Oion.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.001400_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Visualization of GOLD orbiting Earth with image scanning. This version presents the singly-ionized oxygen density from the IRI model.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 252147, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 407533, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004600/a004610/IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview3_Oion.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.001400_searchweb.png", "filename": "IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview3_Oion.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.001400_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Visualization of GOLD orbiting Earth with image scanning. This version presents the singly-ionized oxygen density from the IRI model.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 252148, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 407534, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004600/a004610/IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview3_Oion.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.001400_thm.png", "filename": "IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview3_Oion.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.001400_thm.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Visualization of GOLD orbiting Earth with image scanning. This version presents the singly-ionized oxygen density from the IRI model.", "width": 80, "height": 40, "pixels": 3200 } }, { "id": 252145, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 407531, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004600/a004610/frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/", "filename": "1920x1080_16x9_30p", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of GOLD orbiting Earth with image scanning. This version presents the singly-ionized oxygen density from the IRI model.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 252149, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 407535, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004600/a004610/IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview4_Oion.HD1080i_p30.mp4", "filename": "IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview4_Oion.HD1080i_p30.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of GOLD orbiting Earth with image scanning. This version presents the singly-ionized oxygen density from the IRI model.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 252150, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 407536, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004600/a004610/IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview4_Oion.HD1080i_p30.webm", "filename": "IRIGOLDscan.GOLDview4_Oion.HD1080i_p30.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of GOLD orbiting Earth with image scanning. This version presents the singly-ionized oxygen density from the IRI model.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 327960, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4610/#media_group_327960", "widget": "Basic text with HTML", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "A basic view of the orbit for GOLD (Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk). This mission will conduct measurements of ionospheric composition and ionization better understand the connection between space weather and its terrestrial impacts.

In this visualization, we present GOLD in geostationary orbit around Earth. The colors over Earth represent model data from the IRI (International Reference Ionosphere) model of the density of the singly-ionized oxygen atom at an altitude of 350 kilometers. Red represents high density. The ion density is enhanced above and below the geomagnetic equator (not perfectly aligned with the geographic equator) on the dayside due to the ionizing effects of solar ultraviolet radiation combined with the effects of high-altitude winds and the geomagnetic field.

In the latter half of the visualization, the viewing fields of the GOLD instrument are displayed. GOLD has an imaging spectrometer (green) that periodically scans the disk of Earth with additional higher-resolution scans of the dayside limb.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} } ], "studio": "SVS", "funding_sources": [ "NASA Heliophysics" ], "credits": [ { "role": "Visualizer", "people": [ { "name": "Tom Bridgman", "employer": "Global Science and Technology, Inc." } ] }, { "role": "Scientist", "people": [ { "name": "Jeff Klenzing", "employer": null }, { "name": "Sarah L. Jones", "employer": "NASA/GSFC" }, { "name": "Scott England", "employer": "Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley" } ] }, { "role": "Writer", "people": [ { "name": "Sarah Frazier", "employer": "ADNET Systems, Inc." } ] }, { "role": "Producer", "people": [ { "name": "Genna Duberstein", "employer": "USRA" } ] }, { "role": "Technical support", "people": [ { "name": "Laurence Schuler", "employer": "ADNET Systems, Inc." }, { "name": "Ian Jones", "employer": "ADNET Systems, Inc." } ] } ], "missions": [ "Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD)" ], "series": [ "Interface to Space" ], "tapes": [], "papers": [], "datasets": [ { "name": "International Reference Ionosphere", "common_name": "IRI 2016", "platform": null, "sensor": null, "type": "Model", "organizations": [], "description": "", "credit": "", "url": "", "date_range": null } ], "nasa_science_categories": [ "Earth", "Sun" ], "keywords": [ "Earth Science", "Hyperwall", "Ionosphere", "Ionosphere/Magnetosphere Dynamics", "Ionosphere/Magnetosphere Particles", "Location", "Sun-earth Interactions" ], "recommended_pages": [], "related": [ { "id": 4737, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4737/", "page_type": "Visualization", "title": "Observing Earth's Ionosphere with GOLD", "description": "A visualization of GOLD data observing Earth's ionosphere in ultraviolet light around the wavelength of an atomic oxygen emission. || GOLDData201903.GOLDview_O5S.clockSlate_CRTT.UHD3840.000267_print.jpg (1024x576) [70.4 KB] || GOLD_March2019_animated.gif (1042x586) [5.5 MB] || GOLDData201903.GOLDview_O5S.clockSlate_CRTT.UHD3840.000267_searchweb.png (320x180) [72.3 KB] || GOLDData201903.GOLDview_O5S.clockSlate_CRTT.UHD3840.000267_thm.png (80x40) [5.4 KB] || GOLDData201903.GOLDview_O5S.HD1080i_p10.mp4 (1920x1080) [24.0 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/basic/ (1920x1080) [32.0 KB] || GOLDData201903.GOLDview_O5S.HD1080i_p10.webm (1920x1080) [3.1 MB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/basic/ (3840x2160) [32.0 KB] || GOLDData201903.GOLDview_O5S_2160p10.mp4 (3840x2160) [72.0 MB] || ", "release_date": "2019-07-17T11:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:45:48.784399-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 394748, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004700/a004737/GOLDData201903.GOLDview_O5S.clockSlate_CRTT.UHD3840.000267_print.jpg", "filename": "GOLDData201903.GOLDview_O5S.clockSlate_CRTT.UHD3840.000267_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "A visualization of GOLD data observing Earth's ionosphere in ultraviolet light around the wavelength of an atomic oxygen emission.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 12825, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12825/", "page_type": "Infographic", "title": "GOLD Resources", "description": "The Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk, or GOLD, mission is designed to explore the nearest reaches of space. Capturing never-before-seen images of Earth’s upper atmosphere, GOLD explores in unprecedented detail our space environment — which is home to astronauts, radio signals used to guide airplanes and ships, as well as satellites that provide communications and GPS systems. The more we know about the fundamental physics of this region of space, the more we can protect our assets there.Gathering observations from geostationary orbit above the Western Hemisphere, GOLD measures the temperature and composition of neutral gases in Earth’s thermosphere. This part of the atmosphere co-mingles with the ionosphere, which is made up of charged particles. Both the Sun from above and terrestrial weather from below can change the types, numbers, and characteristics of the particles found here — and GOLD helps track those changes.Activity in this region is responsible for a variety of key space weather events. GOLD scientists are particularly interested in the cause of dense, unpredictable bubbles of charged gas that appear over the equator and tropics, sometimes causing communication problems. As we discover the very nature of the Sun-Earth interaction in this region, the mission could ultimately lead to ways to improve forecasts of such space weather and mitigate its effects. || ", "release_date": "2018-01-24T12:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:47:01.592504-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 407822, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012800/a012825/ElsayedTalaat.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "ElsayedTalaat.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Canned interview with NASA Scientist Elsayed Talaat looking off camera. Soundbites are separated by slates. Full title: Elsayed Talaat, Heliophysics Chief Scientist, NASA Headquarters, Washington Complete transcript available.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 4607, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4607/", "page_type": "Visualization", "title": "GOLD in Geostationary Orbit", "description": "The GOLD instrument orbits Earth in a geostationary orbit over the western hemisphere. || IRIDaily.oblique_.noslate_CRTT.HD1080i.000450_print.jpg (1024x576) [43.8 KB] || IRIDaily.oblique_.noslate_CRTT.HD1080i.000450_searchweb.png (320x180) [44.0 KB] || IRIDaily.oblique_.noslate_CRTT.HD1080i.000450_thm.png (80x40) [2.3 KB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/ (1920x1080) [256.0 KB] || IRIDaily.oblique_GOLD.HD1080i_p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [22.4 MB] || IRIDaily.oblique_GOLD.HD1080i_p30.webm (1920x1080) [8.5 MB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/ (3840x2160) [256.0 KB] || IRIDaily.oblique_GOLD.UHD3840_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [90.1 MB] || ", "release_date": "2018-01-04T10:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2023-11-15T00:11:25.101100-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 408091, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004600/a004607/IRIDaily.oblique_.noslate_CRTT.HD1080i.000450_print.jpg", "filename": "IRIDaily.oblique_.noslate_CRTT.HD1080i.000450_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The GOLD instrument orbits Earth in a geostationary orbit over the western hemisphere.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 4594, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4594/", "page_type": "Visualization", "title": "ICON Scans the Ionosphere", "description": "ICON orbits Earth at 575 kilometers altitude, measuring the composition and motions of the ionosphere. || IRIDaily.limbwICON_OionHwindIGRF.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.000870_print.jpg (1024x576) [105.7 KB] || IRIDaily.limbwICON_OionHwindIGRF.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.000870_searchweb.png (320x180) [63.8 KB] || IRIDaily.limbwICON_OionHwindIGRF.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.000870_thm.png (80x40) [5.0 KB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/ (1920x1080) [512.0 KB] || IRIDaily.limbwICON_OionHwindIGRF.HD1080i_p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [76.4 MB] || IRIDaily.limbwICON_OionHwindIGRF.HD1080i_p30.webm (1920x1080) [10.9 MB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/ (3840x2160) [512.0 KB] || IRIDaily.limbwICON_OionHwindIGRF.UHD3840_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [217.4 MB] || ", "release_date": "2017-10-31T10:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2023-11-15T00:11:15.865462-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 410018, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004500/a004594/IRIDaily.limbwICON_OionHwindIGRF.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.000870_print.jpg", "filename": "IRIDaily.limbwICON_OionHwindIGRF.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.000870_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "ICON orbits Earth at 575 kilometers altitude, measuring the composition and motions of the ionosphere.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 4539, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4539/", "page_type": "Visualization", "title": "Exploring Earth's Ionosphere: Limb view with approach", "description": "Oxygen ion enhancements at 350km altitude, ionospheric winds at altitudes of 100 km (white) and 350 km (violet) and the low-latitude geomagnetic field. || IRIDaily.zoom2limb_OionHwindIGRF.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.000400_print.jpg (1024x576) [92.1 KB] || IRIDaily.zoom2limb_OionHwindIGRF.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.000400_searchweb.png (320x180) [58.1 KB] || IRIDaily.zoom2limb_OionHwindIGRF.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.000400_thm.png (80x40) [4.9 KB] || IRIDaily.zoom2limb_OionHwindIGRF.HD1080i_p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [89.8 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/OionHwindIGRF/ (1920x1080) [256.0 KB] || IRIDaily.zoom2limb_OionHwindIGRF.HD1080i_p30.webm (1920x1080) [8.6 MB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/OionHwindIGRF/ (3840x2160) [256.0 KB] || IRIDaily.zoom2limb_OionHwindIGRF.2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [274.0 MB] || ", "release_date": "2017-01-13T10:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2023-11-14T00:08:38.943348-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 417272, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004500/a004539/IRIDaily.zoom2limb_OionHwindIGRF.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.000400_print.jpg", "filename": "IRIDaily.zoom2limb_OionHwindIGRF.clockSlate_CRTT.HD1080i.000400_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Oxygen ion enhancements at 350km altitude, ionospheric winds at altitudes of 100 km (white) and 350 km (violet) and the low-latitude geomagnetic field.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 4498, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4498/", "page_type": "Visualization", "title": "ICON and GOLD: Exploring the Interface to Space", "description": "A basic view of the orbits for ICON (Ionospheric Connections Explorer) and GOLD (Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk). These missions will conduct measurements of ionospheric composition, ionization, and winds to better understand the connection between space weather and its terrestrial impacts.In this visualization, we present GOLD (in geostationary orbit around Earth) and ICON (in low Earth orbit). The colors over Earth represent model data from the IRI (International Reference Ionosphere) model of the density of the singly-ionized oxygen atom at an altitude of 350 kilometers. Red represents high density. The ion density is enhanced above and below the geomagnetic equator (not perfectly aligned with the geographic equator) on the dayside due to the ionizing effects of solar ultraviolet radiation combined with the effects of high-altitude winds and the geomagnetic field. || ", "release_date": "2016-10-27T14:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2023-11-14T00:08:14.883373-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 420040, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004400/a004498/IRIDaily.SimplePushIn_O+ion.clockSlate_CRTT.UHD3840.000101_print.jpg", "filename": "IRIDaily.SimplePushIn_O+ion.clockSlate_CRTT.UHD3840.000101_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "A simple view of the orbits for ICON and GOLD. This version interpolates the IRI model to a higher time cadence for a smoother animation.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 4503, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4503/", "page_type": "Visualization", "title": "Exploring the Ionosphere: The View from GOLD", "description": "Closeup view of Earth from the perspective of the GOLD instrument. This version interpolates the IRI model to a higher time cadence for a smoother animation. || IRIDaily.GOLDview_O+ion_O+ionSlice.clockSlate_CRTT.UHD3840.001002_print.jpg (1024x576) [50.7 KB] || IRIDaily.GOLDview_O+ion_O+ionSlice.IRIinterp.HD1080i_p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [56.7 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/IRI.interpolate/ (1920x1080) [512.0 KB] || IRIDaily.GOLDview_O+ion_O+ionSlice.IRIinterp.HD1080i_p30.webm (1920x1080) [17.1 MB] || IRIDaily.GOLDview_O+ion_O+ionSlice.IRIinterp_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [200.2 MB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/IRI.interpolate/ (3840x2160) [512.0 KB] || IRIDaily.GOLDview_O+ion_O+ionSlice.IRIinterp_4503.key [57.9 MB] || IRIDaily.GOLDview_O+ion_O+ionSlice.IRIinterp_4503.pptx [57.6 MB] || ", "release_date": "2016-10-27T14:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2023-11-14T00:08:14.999862-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 420062, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004500/a004503/IRIDaily.GOLDview_O+ion_O+ionSlice.clockSlate_CRTT.UHD3840.001002_print.jpg", "filename": "IRIDaily.GOLDview_O+ion_O+ionSlice.clockSlate_CRTT.UHD3840.001002_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Closeup view of Earth from the perspective of the GOLD instrument. This version interpolates the IRI model to a higher time cadence for a smoother animation.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 4504, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4504/", "page_type": "Visualization", "title": "Exploring the Ionosphere: The Dayside Ionosphere", "description": "A view of the singly-ionizing oxygen atom on the dayside of Earth. This represents the variation of the enhancments due to variation in the geomagnetic field. This version interpolates the IRI model to a higher time cadence for a smoother animation. || IRIDaily.sunward_O+ion.clockSlate_CRTT.UHD3840.001001_print.jpg (1024x576) [58.1 KB] || IRIDaily.sunward_O+ion.IRIinterp.HD1080i_p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [50.1 MB] || frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/IRI.interpolated/ (1920x1080) [512.0 KB] || IRIDaily.sunward_O+ion.IRIinterp.HD1080i_p30.webm (1920x1080) [17.1 MB] || IRIDaily.sunward_O+ion.IRIinterp.UHD3840_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [72.7 MB] || frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/IRI.interpolated/ (3840x2160) [512.0 KB] || IRIDaily.sunward_O+ion.IRIinterp_4504.key [51.9 MB] || IRIDaily.sunward_O+ion.IRIinterp_4504.pptx [51.6 MB] || ", "release_date": "2016-10-27T14:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2023-11-14T00:08:15.198156-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 420087, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004500/a004504/IRIDaily.sunward_O+ion.clockSlate_CRTT.UHD3840.001001_print.jpg", "filename": "IRIDaily.sunward_O+ion.clockSlate_CRTT.UHD3840.001001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "A view of the singly-ionizing oxygen atom on the dayside of Earth. This represents the variation of the enhancments due to variation in the geomagnetic field. This version interpolates the IRI model to a higher time cadence for a smoother animation.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [ { "id": 12817, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12817/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Why NASA Is Exploring The Edge Of Our Planet", "description": "The Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk, or GOLD, instrument launches aboard a commercial communications satellite in January 2018 to inspect the dynamic intermingling of space and Earth’s uppermost atmosphere. Together, GOLD and another NASA mission, Ionospheric Connection Explorer spacecraft, or ICON, will provide the most comprehensive of Earth’s upper atmosphere we’ve ever had.Above the ozone layer, the ionosphere is a part of Earth’s atmosphere where particles have been cooked into a sea of electrically-charged electrons and ions by the Sun’s radiation. The ionosphere is co-mingled with the very highest — and quite thin — layers of Earth’s neutral upper atmosphere, making this region an area that is constantly in flux undergoing the push-and-pull between Earth’s conditions and those in space. Increasingly, these layers of near-Earth space are part of the human domain, as it’s home not only to astronauts, but to radio signals used to guide airplanes and ships, and satellites that provide our communications and GPS systems. Understanding the fundamental processes that govern our upper atmosphere and ionosphere is crucial to improve situational awareness that helps protect astronauts, spacecraft and humans on the ground.GOLD, in geostationary orbit over the Western Hemisphere, will build up a full-disk view of the ionosphere and upper atmosphere every half hour, providing detailed large-scale measurements of related processes — a cadence which makes it the first mission to be able to monitor the true weather of the upper atmosphere. GOLD is also able to focus in on a tighter region and scan more quickly, to complement additional research plans as needed. || ", "release_date": "2018-01-05T13:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:47:03.970975-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 407989, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012800/a012817/GOLDOverview_YouTube.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "GOLDOverview_YouTube.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Complete transcript available.Music credits: 'Faint Glimmer' by Andrew John Skeet [PRS], Andrew Michael Britton [PRS], David Stephen Goldsmith [PRS], 'Ocean Spirals' by Andrew John Skeet [PRS], Andrew Michael Britton [PRS], David Stephen Goldsmith [PRS] from Killer Tracks.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } } ], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }