Structure of the Thermosphere during Energy Input through the Magnetospheric cusp: Measurements from the RENU2 Ionization Gauge

Measurements returned by the ionization gauge on the Rocket Experiment for Neutral Upwelling 2 (RENU2) are presented and discussed. The RENU2 mission was launched from the rocket range at the Andøya Space Center on 13 December 2015 into the ionosphere-thermosphere beneath the magnetospheric cusp. Significant structured energy input from high altitudes was observed during the launch. The ionization gauge, which is a sensitive gas sensor, also measured significant horizontal and vertical structure. This presentation reports on the measurements, the data treatment, and the resulting inferred thermospheric structure. The structure is interpreted in the context of the structured energy input and is taken to be a response to that energy input.