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.

[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.

[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.

[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]