ICON Graphics
The Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, is a low-Earth orbiting satellite that will give us new information about how Earth’s atmosphere interacts with near-Earth space — a give-and-take that plays a major role in the safety of our satellites and reliability of communications signals.
Specifically, ICON investigates the connections between the neutral atmosphere — which extends from here near the surface to far above us, at the edge of space — and the electrically charged part of the atmosphere, called the ionosphere. The particles of the ionosphere carry electrical charge that can disrupt communications signals, cause satellites in low-Earth orbit to become electrically charged, and, in extreme cases, cause power outages on the ground.
![Banner for online use featuring ICON observatory, airglow and globe.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith Banner for online use featuring ICON observatory, airglow and globe.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith](/static/svs/images/no_preview_web_black.png)
Banner for online use featuring ICON observatory, airglow and globe.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith
![Banner for online use featuring ICON observatory and airglow.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith Banner for online use featuring ICON observatory and airglow.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith](/static/svs/images/no_preview_web_black.png)
Banner for online use featuring ICON observatory and airglow.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith
![Banner for online use featuring ICON observatory.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith Banner for online use featuring ICON observatory.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith](/static/svs/images/no_preview_web_black.png)
Banner for online use featuring ICON observatory.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith
![ICON observes airglow from low-Earth orbit.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith ICON observes airglow from low-Earth orbit.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith](/static/svs/images/no_preview_web_black.png)
ICON observes airglow from low-Earth orbit.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith
![ICON observes airglow from low-Earth orbit.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith ICON observes airglow from low-Earth orbit.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith](/static/svs/images/no_preview_web_black.png)
ICON observes airglow from low-Earth orbit.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith
![ICON on a transparent background.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith ICON on a transparent background.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith](/static/svs/images/no_preview_web_black.png)
ICON on a transparent background.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith
![ICON infographic and banner.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith ICON infographic and banner.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith](/static/svs/images/no_preview_web_black.png)
ICON infographic and banner.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith
![Flier part 1/2ICON overview flier for media and outreach.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith Flier part 1/2ICON overview flier for media and outreach.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith](/static/svs/images/no_preview_web_black.png)
Flier part 1/2
ICON overview flier for media and outreach.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith
![Flier part 2/2ICON overview flier for media and outreach.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith Flier part 2/2ICON overview flier for media and outreach.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith](/static/svs/images/no_preview_web_black.png)
Flier part 2/2
ICON overview flier for media and outreach.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Mary Pat Hrybyk-Keith
Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
-
Graphic designer
- Mary P. Hrybyk-Keith (TRAX International)
Release date
This page was originally published on Thursday, May 24, 2018.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:46 PM EDT.