The 1999 Leonid multi-instrument aircraft campaign - An early review

Two B707-type research aircraft of the 452(nd) Flight Test Squadron at Edwa rds Air Force Base were deployed to study the Leonid meteor storm of 1999 o ver the Mediterranean Sea on Nov. 18. The mission was sponsored by various science programs of NASA, and offered an international team of 35 researche rs observing conditions free of clouds and low altitude extinction at a pri me location for viewing the storm. This 1999 Leonid Multi-Instrument Aircra ft Campaign followed a similar effort in 1998, improving upon mission strat egy and scope. As before, spectroscopic and imaging experiments targeted me teors and persistent trains, but also airglow, aurora, elves and sprites. T he research aimed to address outstanding questions in astrobiology, planeta ry science, astronomy, and upper atmospheric research. In addition, USAF co -sponsored the mission to provide near real-time flux measurements for spac e weather awareness. First results are presented in these issues of Earth, Moon, and Planets in preparation for future missions that will target the e xceptional Leonid returns of 2001 and 2002. An early review of the scientif ic achievements in the context of campaign objectives is given.