Photonis' Technology Powers NASA Mission to Unravel Aurora Mysteries

Photonis, under its parent company Exosens, has become a crucial supplier for NASA by providing its innovative Channeltron® Electron Multipliers. These devices are central to NASA's recent DISSIPATION mission, which aims to investigate the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. The mission was launched from Poker Flats Research Range, Alaska, on November 8, into the heart of the auroras, intending to collect vital data on how high-altitude solar winds dissipate energy into the atmosphere—a key factor in understanding aurora formation and improving space weather forecasts.

The DISSIPATION mission's sub-payload includes the MoSAIC instrument, outfitted with Photonis' detectors. These allow for accurate measurements of the upper atmosphere's neutral and ion winds, including their density, temperature, velocity, and composition. Ulrich Laupper, the Executive General Manager at Exosens, expressed enthusiasm about their technology's role in advancing our comprehension of the Aurora Borealis and enhancing space weather prediction capabilities.

While the complete analysis of the mission's data will take some time, initial indications suggest that the endeavor has been wholly successful. This collaboration between Photonis and NASA exemplifies the significant role that cutting-edge technology plays in scientific discovery and understanding the complexities of our universe.