HU's $92-MILLION NOCTILUCENT CLOUD MISSION SELECTED BY NASA
"Study is the largest sole mission and sixth satellite mission for HU"

Hampton, VA - NASA announced today that Hampton University's Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesophere (AIM) Mission has been selected for satellite flight in NASA's Small Explorer (SMEX) program.

Hampton's research project was one of two missions selected from among 43 proposals submitted by U.S. universities and research centers. HU was selected based on the merits of its scientific, technical, management and cost plans.

The mission is dedicated to the study of noctilucent, or night shining, clouds (NLCs). NLCs form 50 miles above the Earth's surface usually in regions poleward of 55 degrees latitude during the summer. The main focus of AIM is to answer the question, "Why do NLCs form and vary?" This question has existed since 1885 when NLCs were first observed from the ground by the amateur astronomer Robert Leslie who reported his sighting in a Letter to the Editor of Nature. The number of sightings appears to be increasing with time, the clouds are becoming brighter and they appear to be moving equaterward. The reasons for these changes are unknown. Hampton University's team of researchers will look to answer several fundamental questions:

• Why do NLCs form?
   
• Why have they been getting brighter and denser?
   
• Why have they been moving closer toward the equator?
   
• And most importantly, Are NLCs nature's harbinger of global change in the upper atmosphere?

"There are several theories that attempt to explain why NLCs form. Temperature and water vapor must be involved because some NLCs are known to be made up of water ice. We also know that with any cloud, particles of some kind are needed to provide surfaces for crystals to form. Some possibilities for this are cosmic dust coming into our atmosphere and changing ionization in the upper atmosphere that causes particles to form," said James M. Russell III, AIM Principal Investigator and Hampton University's Co-Director of the Center for Atmospheric Sciences. "AIM will engage the public in space science by providing beautiful panoramic images of NLCs from space and inspire young students to pursue science as a career."

NASA's Small Explorer (SMEX) Program provides frequent flight opportunities for highly focused and relatively inexpensive space science missions. SMEX spacecraft are 180 to 250 kg with orbit-average power consumption of 50 to 200 watts. Each mission is expected to cost approximately $80 to $90 million for design, development and flight operations.

Hampton University is the first historically black college or university ever to be selected to be solely responsible for a major NASA satellite mission. The $80-million mission includes hardware, software, flight operations, science team leadership, science data collection, reporting, data archival for use by the scientific community and education and public outreach.

"To win a satellite mission like this doesn't happen very often," said Russell. "The competition was very fierce, and we are extremely pleased to be selected. This mission will enhance the research environment at HU and it will also provide the opportunity for significant HU student training in carrying out satellite missions."

Students will assist a team of experts in a variety of efforts including the design and implementation of the science data system, information retrieval from remote sensing instruments, instrument test data evaluation and instrument in-orbit performance trending studies. Students also will assist with the operation of the AIM Project Data Center at Hampton University and with implementing the education and public outreach program.

Other partners with HU on the AIM project are the University of Colorado, which will build two instruments and the spacecraft palette; Utah State University and the Naval Research Laboratory, which each will build an instrument; Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation, which will build the spacecraft and GATS Inc., which is responsible for software and AIM data management.

AIM is Hampton University's sixth active NASA satellite mission. Current projects are: HALOE, SAGE II and III and SABER all operating in orbit and CALIPSO under development jointly with the NASA Langley Research Center.

The university's commitment to atmospheric sciences and international research programs has been sparked by the $250 Million fundraising Campaign for Hampton, which was increased from its $200 million goal in 2001 and has added new academic endeavors and increased scientific resources.

"This current research mission speaks highly for the level of resources we have here at Hampton University," said HU President Dr. William R. Harvey. "Our continued relationship with NASA offers our researchers and students the opportunity to lead and participate in world-class studies that have implications for the nation and the world."