Q1. What is NASA’s TOMEX+ mission?
👉 It is a NASA scientific mission to study turbulence in Earth’s mesosphere.
Q2. What is the full form of TOMEX+?
👉 Tidal Effects and Mixing Experiment Plus (TOMEX+).
Q3. What is the main goal of this mission?
👉 To understand how waves and turbulence affect Earth’s atmosphere.
Q4. At what height is the mesosphere located?
👉 Around 50 to 85 kilometers above Earth’s surface.
Q5. What instruments will be used in this mission?
👉 A special scientific rocket (TOMEX+ Rocket) with sensors to measure density, wind speed, and temperature.
Q6. Where will the TOMEX+ rocket be launched from?
👉 From White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, USA.
Q7. Why is it important to study turbulence in the mesosphere?
👉 Because it affects weather, climate, and satellite communications.
Q8. Will this mission go into space?
👉 No, it will reach about 100th–120 km, known as a “suborbital flight.”
Q9. What new knowledge will scientists gain from this mission?
👉 It will reveal how waves and mixing spread energy and particles in the upper atmosphere.
Q10. How will TOMEX+ benefit Earth and daily life?
👉 It will improve weather forecasting, climate models, and GPS/communication systems.
Q11. Has TOMEX been done before?
👉 Yes, the first experiment was in 2002. The new “Plus” version uses advanced technology.
Q12. What measurements will be taken?
👉 Wind speed, density, temperature, and wave structures.
Q13. How long will the mission last?
👉 The rocket flight will last only a few minutes, but the collected data will be analyzed for months.
Q14. Which organizations are involved?
👉 NASA along with U.S. universities and atmospheric research centers.
Q15. What will be considered a success for TOMEX+?
👉 If it provides clear data about how waves and turbulence transfer energy in the mesosphere.