CINDI/CNOFS
Coupled Ion Neutral Dynamic Investigation
Type
Orbiter
Launch
April 16, 2008
Target
Sun-Earth Interaction
Objective
Study space weather
CINDI was a mission to understand the dynamics of Earth’s ionosphere, the part of the atmosphere where particles have separated into charged electrons and ions. Changes in the ionosphere’s shape and structure can hamper communications like radio and GPS. CINDI investigated the physical connections between ions and neutral gases, which in turn influence the evolution and formation of irregularities in the ionosphere. The C/NOFS satellite, which hosted the CINDI instruments, reentered Earth’s atmosphere on Nov. 28, 2015.