jsc2026e014328

jsc2026e014328 (March 23, 2026) --- Vertical and angled (oblique) sounding methods are shown as part of the Nanoracks-ITSI investigation, which consists of a receiver installed outside of the International Space Station to measure how radio signals sent from Earth and other nearby spacecraft change as they pass through the ionosphere. The highest frequency that is received is linked to the greatest concentration of electrons, while the time it takes for the signal to travel (time of flight) is used to estimate the height of the layer. Vertical topside sounding (transmitting from Earth) has been used successfully since 1962 and has provided much of what is known about the ionosphere. With the right transmitting satellites operating during this mission, ITSI may also provide the first demonstration of oblique topside sounding. This method could greatly expand an ability to observe and study the ionosphere. Credit: Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.