Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor

Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) is a project led by the European Space Agency to place cameras and X-ray/γ-ray detectors on the International Space Station to observe the upper atmosphere in order to study sprites, jets and elves and terrestrial gamma-ray flashes in connection with thunderstorms.^[1] It is hoped that measurements of these phenomena from space will contribute to the understanding of Earth's upper atmosphere.^[2]

The ASIM components, originally planned to be completed in 2014, were launched on 2 April 2018 and mounted on the Columbus External Payload Facility on 13 April 2018.^[3] Danish tech company Terma A/S is running the technical part of the project for ESA^[4][5] and DTU Space (National Space Institute) from the Technical University of Denmark provides the scientific leadership of the project.^[6] Mission operations will be performed by the Belgian User Support and Operations Centre (B.USOC) in Uccle, Belgium.^[7][8]

First results from the measurements revealed that gamma ray bursts form when powerful electric fields course through the atmosphere, just before a lightning bolt travels along the same path. These results were published in July 2019.^[9]

The ASIM payload has a mass of 314 kg (692 lb) and consists of sub-systems CEPA and DHPU, and two scientific instruments called MXGS and MMIA:^[3][7]

• The Columbus External Payload Adapter (CEPA) and Data Handling and Power Unit (DHPU) form the structural and electrical connections, respectively, to the Columbus module.
• The Modular X and Gamma Ray Instrument (MXGS) is a pair of terrestrial gamma-ray flash (TGF) detectors. The low-energy detector is sensitive from 15 keV to 400 keV, and the high-energy detector is sensitive from 200 keV to 40 MeV.
• The Modular Multi-Imaging Assembly (MMIA) is an optical imaging system capable of observing 12 frames per second continuously in the 777.4 nm and 337 nm bands at 5 nm wide intervals.

• European contribution to the International Space Station
• Scientific research on the International Space Station
• Spacecraft Atmosphere Monitor

• ASIM.dk
• ASIM webpage at the European Space Agency's Human Spaceflight Research portal
• ASIM webpage by Terma A/S
• ASIM webpage at NASA's Space Station Research & Technology portal

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