A pair of NASA sounding rockets were launched from the Poker Flat Research Range at about 1:30 a.m. as part of an effort to study how changes in the ionosphere affect the aurora. The two rockets, launched 30 seconds apart, collected data from different locations in the upper atmosphere. The mission is led by Kristina Lynch, a professor of physics and astronomy at Dartmouth College.
This event marks the third successful mission and fourth rocket launch from Poker Flat within a span of 12 days, representing a more condensed schedule compared to previous years.
Poker Flat Research Range is owned by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute and operated under contract with Wallops Flight Facility, which belongs to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
The experiment, called Geophysical Non-Equilibrium Ionospheric System Science (GNEISS), aims to understand how sudden energy bursts—often associated with auroras—disrupt the ionosphere’s normal state. According to project details, “The aurora is the visible indicator of the plasma physics that GNEISS is measuring.”
Each rocket carried instruments designed to gather information on electric fields, magnetic conditions, and particles in the ionosphere. Additionally, four smaller sub-payloads were released from each rocket for further data collection along their flight paths. Ground stations across central and northern Alaska photographed these experiments.
To help measure ionospheric density, beacons aboard the rockets sent signals to 11 ground receivers built by students working with Lynch.
Earlier missions this season included Polar Night Nitric Oxide (PolarNOx), which was launched on January 30 under engineering professor Scott Bailey from Virginia Tech. This mission focuses on studying nitric oxide produced during auroras—a gas that can descend into lower layers of Earth’s atmosphere where it may harm ozone levels. Previous launches in 2020 occurred when solar activity was low; this year’s launch took place during peak solar activity.
Another recent launch involved the Black and Diffuse Aurora Science Surveyor mission led by Marilia Samara at Goddard Space Flight Center. This research investigates black auroras—temporary dark shapes created within diffuse auroral glows—and aims to improve understanding of both black and diffuse types.
For additional information about these missions or contacts at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Sarah Frazier can be reached at sarah.frazier@nasa.gov.
