CubeSat Will Study Link Between Lightning, Terrestrial Gamma
Ray Flashes
Massive energy releases occur every day in the upper reaches of
Earth's atmosphere. Lightning may give rise to these bursts of
radiation. However, unlike the well-known flashes of light and
peals of thunder familiar to Earth-dwellers, these energy releases
are channeled upward and can be detected only from space. Our
atmosphere protects us from the effects of this radiation, but the
mechanisms at work can impact Earth's upper atmosphere and its
space environment.