// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Atmosphere
A layer of gases surrounding a planet or other celestial body, held in place by gravity. It can protect the surface and influence climate.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
An atmosphere is a layer of gases enveloping a planet or other celestial body, retained by gravity, which can influence surface temperature, weather patterns, and protect against radiation, with compositions varying significantly across solar system bodies.
BACKGROUND
Outer space, or simply space, is the expanse that exists beyond Earth's atmosphere and between celestial bodies. It contains ultra-low levels of particle densities, constituting a near-perfect vacuum of predominantly hydrogen and helium plasma, permeated by electromagnetic radiation, cosmic rays, neutrinos, magnetic fields and dust. The baseline temperature of outer space, as set by the background radiation from the Big Bang, is 2.7 kelvins.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Air
- gas envelope
- exosphere
- troposphere
USAGE NOTE
Understanding planetary atmospheres is crucial for assessing habitability, climate change, and entry/descent/landing operations.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Atmosphere.
A division of the U.S. space agency that utilizes satellites, airborne missions, and ground-based observations to monitor and study the Earth's atmosphere, weather, and climate systems. They develop and operate a fleet of Earth-observing satellites.
A U.S. government agency responsible for monitoring and forecasting weather and climate. NOAA operates critical geostationary (GOES) and polar-orbiting (JPSS) weather satellites that provide continuous atmospheric data.
The intergovernmental space agency for Europe, which runs extensive Earth Observation Programmes like Copernicus. ESA develops satellites, such as Aeolus, specifically designed to measure atmospheric dynamics like global wind patterns.
An aerospace company that designs and manufactures advanced instruments and spacecraft for atmospheric science. They have built key components for missions like the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) that provide crucial weather and climate data.
A major aerospace and defense contractor that builds advanced sensors and payloads for weather satellites. They are the prime contractor for the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), the primary instrument on the GOES-R series satellites.
A commercial company that operates a large constellation of small satellites. They use radio occultation technology to collect vast amounts of atmospheric data, such as temperature and pressure profiles, which is used for weather forecasting.
A Canadian company that operates a constellation of high-resolution satellites designed to monitor greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from industrial facilities around the world, providing precise data on sources of methane and carbon dioxide.
A U.S. federally funded research and development center dedicated to service, research and education in the atmospheric sciences. NCAR develops advanced models and instruments to study Earth's atmosphere.