International Polar Year (IPY) from the International Space Station (ISS)
New IPY Images taken from the ISS
What is the International Polar Year (IPY)?
The IPY is an international effort to collect relevant scientific data of the
Earth's polar regions. It will last from March 2007 to March 2009. IPY data
will be analyzed by scientists to answer fundamental questions about the Earth's
changing climate, the effects of space weather, and Earth processes recorded
from the far reaches of upper atmosphere to deep in polar ice cores. More
information on IPY can be found at IPY links.
Why is the ISS involved in IPY?
Dr. Don Pettit, ISS crew member on Expedition 6 in 2003, realized the vantage
point astronauts have for repeatedly observing polar features like the moving
boundaries of sea ice, the glowing aurora, and the occurrence of Polar
Mesospheric Clouds. His proposal to the International IPY committee was
accepted (see http://www.ipy.org/development/eoi/proposal-details.php?id=78),
and NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate endorsed the participation of
the ISS for IPY observations.
How can IPY Scientists Use the ISS?
The ISS provides an observational platform orbiting Earth at 400 km altitude.
IPY investigators can request images from the ISS to augment their IPY research.
The orbital inclination of the ISS at 51.6 degrees
allows astronauts to witness and document features on the surface as far north
and south as 65 degrees, and observe upper atmospheric phenomena occurring at
latitudes up to 80 degrees.
Astronauts routinely use cameras to image
earth features. During IPY, Crew members will be trained to observe and
photograph polar features requested by IPY investigators.
To download a document providing more details of the International Space
Station (ISS) relevant to polar observations, and additional guidance for
scientists participating in IPY research who are interested in requesting
imagery from the ISS, click here: