NASA to Launch Rockets into Alaskan Auroras for Groundbreaking Study
NASA is set to launch two research rockets into the Northern Lights from Poker Flat Research Range in Fairbanks, Alaska, as part of an ambitious study aimed at understanding the behaviors of different types of auroras. The missions, led by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center physicists Marilia Samara and Robert Michell, are part of their efforts to decipher the mysterious flickering, pulsating, and missing light patterns observed in auroras.
The launch window opened on January 21, but precise timing is essential due to the dynamic nature of auroral activities. Ground-based cameras will monitor auroras to optimize launch timing and trajectory, ensuring the rockets can effectively capture data during their ascent.
The first mission, named GIRAFF, will compare fast-pulsating auroras that blink several times a second with flickering auroras that shimmer up to 15 times per second. The second mission focuses on the study of “black auroras,” which appear to feature dark spots or voids. Researchers hope to uncover the processes and electron interactions responsible for creating these phenomena.
Each mission aims to glean insights into the space weather environment surrounding Earth, with the hope of enhancing our understanding of auroras and their complex behaviors. With a careful mix of timing and scientific inquiry, NASA anticipates significant advances in aurora research following these launches.
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