Nitric Oxide Measurements to improve Atmospheric Densities (NOMAD)

The Earth’s upper atmosphere varies on spatial and temporal scales and this variation can have adverse effects on operational systems. To reduce the risks from uncertainties in these systems, we are building, testing, and demonstrating an instrument that will provide information about the state of the atmosphere during and after large geomagnetic storms. Our sensor, called NOMAD, will remotely observe nitric oxide (NO) that is a minor species produced during storms. NO leads to efficient cooling and collapse of the atmosphere, thus reducing densities that affect debris collision assessment. This work builds a sensor to observe NO and will be hosted on a stratospheric drone at 20 km for continuous monitoring for extended periods. We will finalize our design, develop, and test NOMAD in Phase II, integrate it into ARGOS, and develop/test the data collection/processing system. Three units will be integrated into our ARGOS aircraft with three viewing angles to observe NO dynamics in a 200–300 km region above ARGOS. This work expands observational tools that support short- and long-term space weather predictions and will provide decision makers with improved characterization and prediction of the timing, intensity, and impact of storm space weather events on critical infrastructure. For a fraction of satellite deployment and operations cost and for better temporal and spatial resolution, agency operators of space traffic management systems will be able to significantly increase their current epoch and forecast accuracy of thermospheric densities to reduce the hazard from debris collisions. NOMAD will directly support NOAA’s mission to develop a space traffic management system through the Office of Space Commerce Traffic Coordination System for Space program. The TraCSS program will use data assimilative modeling to produce improved weather of thermosphere densities. This work will provide a NO sensor on a high-altitude UAV platform for the purpose of creating a 24/7 operational data stream of remotely sensed lower thermospheric NO. The NO above ARGOS is produced during and after geomagnetic storms and the observations of it can feed thermospheric density models.