Atmospheric
Waves
Experiment

AWE will provide the first global characterization of atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) that originate in Earth’s lower atmosphere and affect space weather.

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An artistic rendering of AWE positioned on the International Space Station and scanning a swath of Earth.
A black and white image of Earth from space.

What is AWE?

AWE is a space-based mission designed to provide the first-ever global characterization of small-scale AGWs at the edge of space.

Explore the Mission
An infrared image of Earth from space.

How does AWE work?

AWE uses a set of four infrared telescopes to image AGWs as they penetrate Earth’s upper atmospheric boundary.

Check out the Payload
A pixelated image of Earth from space.

Why is AWE important?

AWE will improve our understanding of the AGWs that affect navigation, tracking, and communication systems.

Discover AWE Science

In the News

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Utah State TODAY - January 30, 2024
Sharing Wonder: USU Physics Students Practice STEM Outreach at NASA's Kennedy Space Center
NASA’s Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) extraction from SpaceX’s Dragon cargo spacecraft onboard the International Space Station.
NASA - January 8, 2024
Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) Installation
Observing first live images caputred by AWE from the ISS.
Space Dynamics Laboratory - January 5, 2024
Space Dynamics Laboratory Captures “First Light” from NASA’s Atmospheric Waves Experiment
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Participating Organizations

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Utah State University logo.
Space Dynamics Laboratory logo.
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory logo.
National Center For Atmospheric Research logo.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University logo.
University of Colorado Boulder logo.
GATS logo.
Atmospheric Waves Experiment
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The material is based upon work supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Contract Number 80GSFC18C0007.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.