The Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) has officially concluded its data collection mission aboard the International Space Station, providing unprecedented insight into how terrestrial weather influences the environment of space. Since its deployment in late 2023, the instrument has spent 30 months monitoring ‘airglow’—bands of light in the upper atmosphere—to track atmospheric gravity waves. These invisible ripples, generated by mountain winds and severe weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes, propagate upward, significantly impacting the conditions of the near-Earth space environment.

During its operational lifespan, AWE captured over 80 million infrared images, documenting how intense weather systems on the ground create measurable disturbances in the upper atmosphere. By observing events such as the 2024 tornado outbreaks and Hurricane Helene, researchers have confirmed that Earth’s weather systems extend their reach far beyond the clouds. These gravity waves can alter the density of plasma in the upper atmosphere, which in turn can disrupt critical satellite communications, navigation signals, and timing systems essential to the modern orbital economy.

With the mission now complete, the AWE instrument is slated for removal by the station’s robotic arm to make room for the upcoming CLARREO Pathfinder project. While the hardware will eventually be decommissioned, the vast repository of data collected remains a vital resource for the scientific community. This information is being made available to the public, allowing researchers and citizen scientists alike to study the complex, dynamic relationship between Earth’s climate and the space environment that surrounds the planet.