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.

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