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The Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) is a satellite to conduct a 26-month study of noctilucent clouds (NLCs). It is the ninetieth Explorer program mission and is part of the NASA-funded Small Explorer program (SMEX). On April 25, 2007 AIM was boosted into a high polar orbit by a Pegasus-XL rocket, which was air-launched from the Lockheed L-1011 ''Stargazer'' aircraft operated by Orbital Sciences. == Spacecraft and instruments == The AIM satellite is a , by spacecraft, powered by two solar arrays, carrying three instruments: * Cloud Imaging and Particle Size (CIPS) * Cosmic Dust Experiment (CDE) * Solar Occultation for Ice Experiment (SOFIE) The Cloud Imaging and Particle Size (CIPS) instrument has four cameras positioned at different angles, which provide multiple views of the clouds from different angles and will allow a determination of the sizes of the ice particles that make up the cloud. The Cosmic Dust Experiment (CDE) records impacts from cosmic dust particles as they enter Earth's upper atmosphere. The instrument uses fourteen polyvinylidene fluoride detectors, which emit a pulse of charge when impacted by a hypervelocity dust particle (velocity ). A measurement of the value and variability of the cosmic dust input will allow scientists to determine the role the particles have in PMC (Polar Mesospheric Cloud) formation. CDE is a nearly identical replica to the Student Dust Counter on the New Horizons mission.〔 The Solar Occultation for Ice Experiment (SOFIE) uses solar occultation to measure cloud particles, temperature and atmospheric gases involved in forming the clouds. The instrument will reveal the mixture of chemicals that prompt NLC's formation, as well as the environment in which the clouds form.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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