15 January 2026
Atmospheric gravity waves can have far-reaching effects: at high altitudes, they alter winds, temperatures and air density. This can trigger disturbances in the thermosphere and ionosphere - with consequences for satellite orbits as well as radio and navigation signals. These waves are the focus of the CubeSat mission AtmOCube, which has been selected by the US space agency NASA for its H-FORT programme. Forschungszentrum Jülich is involved in the mission together with the University of Wuppertal and partners in the United States.
The aim of the mission is to gain a better understanding of processes in the upper atmosphere and ionosphere at altitudes above around 80 kilometres, and thus to improve forecasts that are crucial for satellite operations, communication and navigation. Teams at Forschungszentrum Jülich are developing, together with partners, the scientific instrument on board the satellite. It measures light signals from the atmosphere and uses them to investigate how atmospheric gravity waves propagate at high altitudes. In this way, Jülich contributes both scientific expertise and instrument development to an international NASA mission.NASA's H-FORT programme (Heliophysics Flight Opportunities for Research and Technology) supports cost-effective research and technology missions using small satellites.
How strongly gravity waves affect the upper atmosphere is not yet fully understood. In particular, it is difficult to measure their propagation and effects at high altitudes. AtmOCube (Atmospheric Oxygen CubeSat Mission) is designed to address this gap. Using high-resolution measurements, the mission will provide new data on how energy is transferred from the lower atmosphere to higher altitudes - and how this drives variability in the thermosphere and ionosphere. These findings will help improve existing atmospheric models and make forecasts for near-Earth space more reliable. This is made possible by specialised measurement technology on board the satellite.
A compact and precise view of the atmosphere
AtmOCube is a satellite about the size of a small suitcase. On board are two highly sensitive instruments that detect faint light emitted by oxygen molecules in the upper atmosphere. From these light signals, high-resolution temperature profiles can be derived, which researchers use to analyse how atmospheric gravity waves propagate at high altitudes.
To do this, the satellite looks diagonally through the atmosphere in the direction opposite to its flight path, capturing light signals from many different altitude layers at the same time. The resulting data show how much energy and momentum the waves transport and how strongly they influence the upper atmosphere.
"Being selected by NASA is a major step for our team and our partners. AtmOCube highlights how important a better understanding of the upper atmosphere is for society - for example, for the reliable operation of satellites, navigation and communication," says Dr. Martin Kaufmann, scientist at the Institute of Climate and Energy Systems. "At the same time, the mission provides valuable data to better understand the processes that link upper-atmospheric variability to climate change."
International cooperation
AtmOCube is a prime example of the close interaction between science and technology at Forschungszentrum Jülich. Scientists and engineers from the Institute of Climate and Energy Systems - Stratosphere (ICE-4) and the Institute of Technology and Engineering (ITE) contribute their respective expertise to the scientific requirements and measurement concepts, and jointly carry out the development, assembly, integration and testing of the required hardware.
Within AtmOCube, Forschungszentrum Jülich works closely with the University of Colorado Boulder (Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, LASP) and the University of Wuppertal. Instrument development and characterisation are largely carried out in Germany, while satellite integration and mission implementation are mainly coordinated and conducted at LASP in Boulder.
Following its selection, AtmOCube will now enter a six-month concept and planning phase. During this period, mission details and requirements will be further refined and feedback from the review process incorporated. The phase concludes with the System Requirements Review, on the basis of which NASA will approve the next funding and implementation stage. The mission launch is currently planned for 2029.
