GOLD in Geostationary Orbit

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  • 
    ID: 4737 Visualization

    Observing Earth's Ionosphere with GOLD

    July 17th, 2019
    (updated May 3rd, 2023)

    A visualization of GOLD data observing Earth's ionosphere in ultraviolet light around the wavelength of an atomic oxygen emission. || This is a visualization of data taken by the GOLD spectrometer aboard the SES-14 satellite. SES 14 is positioned in a geostationary orbit above 47.5 degrees west longitude so it always observes the same hemisphere. This data is of ultraviolet emission from Earth's ionosphere in a band near the wavelength of 135.6 nanometers, an emission line of atomic oxygen.This data is presented with a spectral color table, where red is the bright and violet is dim. We see some this emission in the aurora (visible at the north and south polar regions), energized by electrons and ions streaming in from Earth's magnetic field. More emission is created during the day by sunlight pumping atomic oxygen into an energetic state. As the sun sets, the oxygen decays from the energized state, releasing a photon of ultraviolet light. We see more emission from two bands near the equator after sunset. This double-lobed enhancement straddles the magnetic equator which is offset around the geographic equator, especially over South America. This enhancement corresponds to the Appleton anomaly, originally discovered in 1946. In the version showing the geomagnetic field, it is easy to see how the field channels the excited atoms. See also Interface to Space: The Equatorial Fountain.GOLD is a scanning instrument that alternates between scanning the northern hemisphere, and then the southern hemisphere (other scanning modes are possible, but not included in this visualization). The full-disk images shown here are created by combining these two hemisphere scans. The time difference between the scans creates a discontinuity at the equator which is particularly visible at the day-night terminator when these scans are combined for full-disk imaging. Differences between the north-south scan interval and south-north interval makes changes in this edge.Between about 22:00 UT and 06:00UT the next day, there is a large data gap because the Sun would appear behind the Earth from the position of GOLD and potentially shine directly into the GOLD instrument. ||

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  • 
    ID: 12825 Produced Video

    GOLD Resources

    Jan. 24th, 2018
    (updated May 3rd, 2023)

    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. ||

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  • 
    ID: 4610 Visualization

    GOLD: Instrument Scanning Coverage

    Jan. 19th, 2018
    (updated Aug. 25th, 2023)

    Visualization of GOLD orbiting Earth with image scanning. This version presents the singly-ionized oxygen density from the IRI model. || 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. ||

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  • 
    ID: 4527 Visualization

    ICON and GOLD: Instrument Scanning Coverage

    Dec. 14th, 2016
    (updated Aug. 25th, 2023)

    Visualization of ICON and GOLD orbiting Earth with image scanning. This version presents several geospace models, including the singly-ionized oxygen density, the low-latitude geomagnetic field, and the high-altitude winds (100km and 350km altitudes). || 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.In the latter half of the visualization, the viewing fields of the various instruments are displayed. ICON has an EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) and FUV (Far Ultraviolet) cameras (violet colored frustrums directed from spacecraft) pointing perpendicular to the orbit direction for detecting ionospheric emissions. Two Doppler interferometer cameras (blue) are directed at 45 degrees from this camera to detect ionospheric wind velocities.GOLD has an imaging spectrometer (green) that periodically scans the disk of Earth with additional higher-resolution scans of the dayside limb. ||

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    ID: 12823 Produced Video

    Where Earth Meets Space

    Feb. 5th, 2018
    (updated May 3rd, 2023)

    NASA’s newest mission, GOLD, will explore the ever-changing boundary between Earth and space. || No hard and fast line divides Earth's upper atmosphere from outer space. Instead, the little understood region where one fades into the other responds both to terrestrial weather in the lower atmosphere below and the tumult of space weather from above. This dynamic region has historically been difficult to observe; 60-400 miles above the surface, it’s too low to easily study with satellites and too high for aircraft and scientific balloons. On Jan. 25, 2018, NASA set out to change that with the launch of the Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk, or GOLD, instrument, hosted aboard a commercial communications satellite. From geostationary orbit, GOLD observes Earth's interface to space. Space is not completely empty: It’s teeming with fast-moving charged particles and electric and magnetic fields that guide their motion. At the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and space, these particles and fields - the ionosphere - co-exist with the upper reaches of the neutral atmosphere, called the thermosphere. The two commingle and influence one another constantly. GOLD inspects this interplay and the forces responsible for the day-to-day changes in this critical boundary layer. Watch the videos to learn more. ||

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  • 
    ID: 12817 Produced Video

    Why NASA Is Exploring The Edge Of Our Planet

    Jan. 5th, 2018
    (updated May 3rd, 2023)

    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. ||

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