NASA AIM detector shuts down due to battery problems, ending 15 years of scientific discovery

CTOnews.com March 20 news, according to NASA official website news, called AIM (middle atmosphere high altitude ice detector) satellite stopped operation due to battery problems, ending more than 15 years of scientific discovery journey.

AIM was launched in 2007 with a primary mission to study polar mesoatmospheric clouds (PMCs), also known as "noctilucent clouds" or "nightglow clouds." These clouds are made up of ice crystals and are the highest clouds in Earth's atmosphere, which can exist for hundreds of years.

Orbiting 312 miles above Earth, AIM has provided data for more than 15 years that has helped NASA scientists understand the causes and mechanisms of cloud formation in the middle atmosphere and has contributed to the publication of 379 peer-reviewed scientific papers.

AIM, originally planned for a two-year primary mission, entered "extended operational status" after completion in 2009 and continued to provide data for subsequent years. NASA said AIM's batteries began to decline in 2019, but they were still able to return valuable data. However, due to further deterioration of the batteries, AIM satellites are currently unable to receive commands or collect data.

According to NASA, the AIM team will continue to monitor communications with the spacecraft for two weeks in case AIM is able to restart or send a signal.