Atmosphere-Space Transition Region Explorer
Atmosphere-Space Transition Region Explorer is a mission concept proposed in 2011 to NASA's Medium-Class Explorers program to study the interaction between the Earth's atmosphere and the ionized gases in outer space in an effort to understand how space-induced currents in electric power grids originate, as well as improve satellite drag models. The spacecraft would measure ionized gases within the transition region/boundary layer between 150-250 km altitude. The concept was not selected for development at that time.
The Principal Investigator is Robert F. Pfaff from the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
