Weather

NASA test could generate colorful clouds offshore

The planned NASA launch of a suborbital sounding rocket from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia in a study of ionization in the upper atmosphere could create colorful clouds visible across the mid-Atlantic region.

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Puffs of color emerged high over the Mid-Atlantic coast in a 2017 night launch studying the ionosphere
By
Tony Rice
, NASA Ambassador

A rocket launch from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility along Virginia's Eastern Shore could create colorful clouds over the Atlantic Ocean, visible from mid-Atlantic and southeastern states Wednesday afternoon.

A three-stage, suborbital sounding rocket is scheduled for launch the afternoon of March 3 for the Department of Defense in a study of ionization in space just beyond the reaches of Earth’s atmosphere.

After flying to an altitude of several hundred miles and about 500 miles off-shore, the rocket’s payload will release a small amount of vapor, about the equivalent of two BBQ grill propane tanks, into the near-vacuum of space.

This can produce colorful clouds that could be visible to people in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States as the Sun illuminates the vapor before it harmlessly diffuses into space.

The study is similar to a 2017 night launch which produced vibrant glowing clouds visible across the region. Wednesday afternoon's launch is not expected to be as visible.

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