New Perspectives on the Thermosphere and Ionosphere From the RAIDS Experiment on the ISS

The Remote Atmospheric and Ionospheric Detection System (RAIDS) is a suite of three photometers, three spectrometers, and two spectrographs that is manifested to fly on the Japanese Experiment Module-Exposed Facility aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2009. The RAIDS experiment measures many airglow features across the wavelength range 50-874 nm important for remote sensing of the thermosphere and ionosphere. The primary scientific objectives of the RAIDS experiment are to study the temperature of the lower thermosphere (100-200 km), to measure composition and chemistry of the lower thermosphere and ionosphere, and to develop capabilities to monitor the dayside ionosphere via the OII 83.4 nm emission. We will present an overview of the combination of measurements RAIDS will make to provide a new perspective on the thermosphere-ionosphere system, new techniques for thermospheric-ionospheric remote sensing, and a new vantage point from the ISS to add to the growing collection of data for more robust volumetric thermospheric specification.