ANCHORAGE, Alaska — It was a successful blast off at the Poker Flat Research range earlier this week.
The mission called "VISIONS” (Visualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) set out to gather information on how the aurora heats and slingshots oxygen out of the upper atmosphere.
On February 6th, the skies were cloudy and the aurora wasn't out, but things quickly changed downrange at Kaktovik.
Scientists say the rocket performed well and the on-board instruments executed their jobs as planned.
NASA scientists in Poker Flats, Alaska, have been waiting since Saturday for the right weather conditions to launch a sounding rocket into the green aurora-lit skies, where it will fly to an altitude of 500 miles and capture data and imagery from within and above the northern lights.
Rocket will help researchers understand the phenomena behind auroras
By JASON KOEBLER
February 7, 2013
Swirls of green and red appear in an aurora over Whitehorse, Yukon, on the night of Sep. 3, 2012. NASA's VISIONS sounding rocket will study what makes the aurora and how it affects Earth’s atmosphere.
Thursday, NASA successfully launched a rocket designed to help researchers understand auroras, commonly known as the "Northern Lights."
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