Achievements in atmospheric science from Spacelab: The mesosphere/lower thermosphere

The Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere (MLT) are adjacent regions of the upper atmosphere that cannot be easily accessed (except by rockets) by in situ measurement. For this reason, the MLT l essentially represents the last unexplored region of the planet. The advent of the shuttle and remote sensing technology over the last decade and a half have changed this situation significantly. Spacelab 1 carried the first payload of instruments capable of acquiring a comprehensive database on the MLT region, and much was learned on that mission that was subsequently used to have greatly improve the measurement capability. The ATLAS 1 payload was probably the most comprehensive ever launched to study upper atmosphere, and the mission was reported as being one of the most successful of NASA's endeavor's to date. The database acquired on ATLAS 1 will provide a reference that will be used for many years to come. It will also provide the means to gaining the first quantitative understanding of the photochemistry of the lower thermosphere and mesosphere.