Advances in noctilucent cloud research in the space era

A summary of NLC research in the last two decades is presented. Results of NLC studies from the near-Earth space are discussed. It is shown that NLC can cover much larger territories than those estimated earlier and that there exists asymmetry in the coverage and also in the physical properties of NLC in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The mesopause often reveals a compelx multilayered structure. The pilot program of NLC research is discussed as a subprogram of the Middle Atmosphere Program and some vistas in NLC research are discussed.