MATS (satellite)

MATS (Mesospheric Airglow/Aerosol Tomography and Spectroscopy)
Mission typeClimatology
OperatorSwedish National Space Board
COSPAR IDMATS:2022-147A [1]
SATCAT no.MATS:TBD
Websitehttps://www.rymdstyrelsen.se/en/swedish-space-industry/swedish-satellites/mats/
Mission duration2 years (planned)
2 years and 20 days (elapsed)
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerOHB Sweden, ÅAC Clyde Space, Stockholm University Chalmers University of Technology, KTH, Omnisys Instruments
Launch mass50 kg (110 lb)
Dimensions60 cm × 70 cm × 85 cm (24 in × 28 in × 33 in)
PowerTBD
Start of mission
Launch date4 November 2022, 17:27:00 UTC (2022-11-04UTC17:27Z)
RocketElectron rocket
Launch siteRocket Lab Launch Complex 1
ContractorRocket Lab
Waves in the Earth's mesosphere, seen in noctilucent clouds over the Netherlands in June 2019.

MATS (Mesospheric Airglow/Aerosol Tomography and Spectroscopy) is a Swedish research satellite designed for studying waves in Earth's atmosphere. Launch occurred on 4 November 2022 from the Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 at the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand.[2][3][4]

MATS is planned to study atmospheric waves, providing data for atmospheric models monitoring future changes in the mesosphere, the atmospheric layer 50-100 km above sea level. In particular, MATS is designed to measure noctilucent clouds and atmospheric airglow from oxygen molecules.[5]

  1. ^ "MATS - Gunter's Space Page". 4 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Rocket Lab to attempt booster recovery on upcoming Electron launch". SpaceNews. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  3. ^ Thomas von Heijne (4 November 2022). "Svenska satelliten Mats ska kartlägga jordens atmosfär" (in Swedish). SVT Vetenskap. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Svensk satellit skjuts upp" (in Swedish). SVT Play. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  5. ^ "MATS instrument". Stockholm University. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.