{"id":14409,"date":"2017-05-24T18:02:54","date_gmt":"2017-05-24T22:02:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=14409"},"modified":"2017-05-24T18:03:21","modified_gmt":"2017-05-24T22:03:21","slug":"nasa-sounding-rocket-to-light-up-eastern-shore-college-students-launch-mars-rovers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=14409","title":{"rendered":"NASA sounding rocket to light up Eastern Shore + College students launch Mars rovers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Early on the morning of May 31st, people living along the Mid-Atlantic region of the US coast may\u00a0see a big light show in the sky: \u00a0NASA Sounding Rocket will Release Early Morning Artificial Clouds Light | NASA<\/a><\/p>\n

The early morning skies along the mid-Atlantic coast will light up with luminescent clouds as NASA tests a new system that supports science studies of the ionosphere and aurora with a sounding rocket launch May 31 from the Wallops Flight Facility<\/a> on the eastern shore of Virginia. Backup launch days are June 1 through 6.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

During the flight of a two-stage Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket between 4:25 and 4:42 a.m. EDT, ten canisters about the size of a soft drink can will be deployed in the air, 6 to 12 miles away from the 670-pound main payload.<\/em><\/p>\n

The canisters will deploy between 4 and 5.5 minutes after launch blue-green and red vapor forming artificial clouds. These clouds or vapor tracers allow scientists on the ground to visually track particle motions in space.<\/em><\/p>\n

The development of the multi-canister or ampule ejection system will allow scientists to gather information over a much larger area than previously allowed when deploying the vapor just from the main payload.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ground cameras will be stationed at Wallops and in Duck, North Carolina, to view the vapor tracers. Clear skies are preferred, but not required, at both sites for the launch to occur.<\/em><\/p>\n

The vapor tracers are formed through the interaction of barium, strontium and cupric-oxide. The tracers will be released at altitudes 96 to 124 miles high and pose absolutely no hazard to residents along the mid-Atlantic coast.<\/em><\/p>\n

The vapor tracers could be visible from New York to North Carolina and westward to Charlottesville, Virginia.<\/em><\/p>\n

===<\/p>\n

Recently a sounding rocket launched from Wallops Island (near Chincoteague Island<\/a>) with Mars rover prototype\u00a0models built by university students:<\/p>\n

Student-Made Mars Rover Concepts Lift Off<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Virginia Tech students watch a Black Brant IX sounding rocket take off from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. [Larger image<\/a>.]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>Witnessing a rocket launch is a special occasion. Watching a rocket launch with materials you made go up into the sky is priceless.<\/p>\n