Tracking shuttle exhaust reveals more information about atmospheric winds
Tuesday, August 28, 2012 - 20:00
in Astronomy & Space
As a shuttle plume spread and floated on air currents high in Earth's atmosphere, it crossed through the observation paths of seven separate sets of instruments. A group of scientists tracked the plume to learn more about the airflow in the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere -- a region that is typically quite hard to study. The team found the water vapor spread much faster than expected.