# AWE Mission: SDL Captures First Light

**Type:** source
**Status:** Useful
**Confidence:** High
**Source Type:** official-page
**URL:** https://www.awemission.org/media-resources/news/2024-01-05-sdl-captures-first-light-from-awe
**Archive:** https://web.archive.org/web/20240621192102/https://www.awemission.org/media-resources/news/2024-01-05-sdl-captures-first-light-from-awe
**Archived:** 2024-06-21
**Publisher:** AWE Mission
**Updated:** 2026-08-11

## Summary

The AWE mission's official update records first light after the instrument's installation on the International Space Station.

## Useful Claims

- Space Dynamics Laboratory received the instrument's first images after installation and checkout.
- The milestone showed that AWE's infrared imagers were operating from the station.
- Commissioning preceded routine science collection and later public data releases.

## Reliability Notes

This primary operational announcement supports the milestone but does not independently validate later scientific conclusions.

## Related Pages

- [Atmospheric Waves Experiment](atmospheric-waves-experiment.md) · https://greatutah.work/pages/atmospheric-waves-experiment.md