Atmosphere explorer and the IMS

Abstract

The Atmosphere Explorer (AE) program provided assistance to participants in the International Magnetosphere Study (IMS). The AE program, which began about 1970 employed three spacecraft in three complementary orbits. The program initiated a concept of a common data base, which is, a data base shared by all the participating investigators, to facilitate the correlation of the measured parameters. The immediate goal of the AE program has been study of the thermosphere, giving particular attention to photochemistry. Three satellites, AE-C, D, and E, were launched into orbits of 68 deg, 90 deg, and 19 deg inclination respectively in December 1973, October 1975, and November 1975. An instrument complement description is provided, and the AE data base is discussed.