ASIM installation on ISS

Copenhagen, Denmark - Today, the biggest Danish space project, The Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM), is being installed on the European Columbus module on the International Space Station (ISS). A robotic arm on the Space Station will move ASIM onto an external platform overlooking the Earth.

Follow the installation of ASIM here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-iss-stream

The actual move of ASIM from the Dragon transport module to Columbus was scheduled to start around 5 pm and later crucial temperature data will be received.

The operation is coordinated between ISS Mission Control in Houston, USA; Columbus Control in OberPfaffenHofen (Germany); and ASIM Operations Center in Brussels.

After this, the astronauts on board the ISS will turn on two switches in the Columbus module. When Terma has received confirmation from Houston that the astronauts have completed their tasks and the first data has been analyzed, then the Columbus Control Center will receive a message to power up ASIM.

Over the weekend, Terma will then oversee the activities with testing of the various subsystems.

See more from last week’s launch of ASIM and the installation at ISS:

Houston ISS Mission Control: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne57B7QI4gk

CRS-14 launch on 2 April 2018: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPQHG-LevZM

Dragon Capture on 4 April 2018: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8Dn1msWstg

ASIM Animation of the Dragon Capture and installation, together with ASIM installation and presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0wAxYr762k

The ASIM observatory will be used to study high-altitude electrical discharges in the stratosphere and mesosphere above severe thunderstorms, the so-called red sprites, blue jets, haloes, and elves, and monitor X-ray and Gamma-ray flashes. A knowledge which can be used to identify climate processes in the atmosphere and improve climate models for Earth.

ASIM is an international project under ESA. The project is led by Denmark with Terma as technical prime contractor and DTU Space as lead of the scientific part. In addition, institutions and companies from a number of other countries participate in the project.

ASIM is developed under the auspices of the European Space Agency, ESA. DTU Space has the scientific leadership of the mission. The Danish aerospace company Terma A/S has the overall technical responsibility and the Danish Meteorological Institute supplies global meteorological data products and participates in the scientific studies. Additional partners are University of Valencia, Spain, University of Bergen, Norway, Space Research Center, Poland, OHB-Italia, Italy, and B.USOC, Belgium.