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36.335, 41.123 &41.124 CE CLEMMONS/AEROSPACE CORPORATION
Turbulent Oxygen Mixing Experiment Plus (TOMEX+)
- Mission
- Vehicle
- Launch
- Photos
The specific science questions that will be addressed byTOMEX+ include understanding the role of turbulence and other atmospheric disturbances in the dynamics and mixing of the upper atmosphere, and the characterization of these
disturbances in three dimensions. TOMEX+ investigates atmospheric mixing in the mesosphere-lower thermosphere (MLT) using newly-developed ultraviolet lidar technology. Three rockets will be launched for this mission, an instrumented Black Brant IX and two Terrier-Improved Orions deploying vapor trails.
Mission Objectives:
► Determine how the vertical profile of the atomic oxygen mixing ration varies as the atmosphere changes from regions of large layered turbulence at or below the mesopause to decreasing and possibly vanishing turbulence around the turbopause.
► Determine the horizontal variations in the atomic oxygen density that can be related to variations in turbulent fluctuations.
► Characterize the 3D turbulence spectrum, its spatial variability and relationship to larger scale features of the flow, especially those relatable to instabilities.
The Principal Investigator is Dr. Clemmons/Aerospace Corporation.
The Black Brant 9 is a two stage sounding rocket with a Terrier first stage and Black Brant second stage. The Black Brant 9 can reach altitudes of about 600 km. Payloads weighing from 400 to 1200 pounds can be flown.
The Terrier-Improved Orion is a two stage sounding rocket consisting of a Terrier first stage and an Orion second stage. The Terrier-Improved Orion is capable of reaching altitudes of about 350 km, depending on payload mass, and can carry payloads weighing 200 to 800 pounds.
TOMEX+ will be launched from Wallops Island, NASA Wallops Flight Facility.