Topic: Space

NASA launched two rockets to study the northern lights. The mission aimed to understand the powerful electrical forces behind this natural phenomenon.

The first rocket, called Black and Diffuse Auroral Science Surveyor, lifted off from Alaska on February 9 at 3:29 a.m. AKST. It climbed to an altitude of about 224 miles (360 kilometers) and returned high-quality data as planned. The second mission, GNEISS, launched two rockets side by side into the same aurora on February 10. Each rocket reached a peak altitude of around 198-199 miles (319-320 kilometers) and transmitted radio signals through the plasma to ground receivers.

The northern lights are powered by electrons streaming down from space into Earth's upper atmosphere. These charged particles energize atmospheric gases, causing them to glow. The process is similar to electricity traveling through a wire to power a lightbulb. However, the aurora is only one stop along a larger electrical pathway. Electricity moves in loops, and scientists need to map the many possible routes it takes through the sky.

GNEISS was designed to answer this question by building a three-dimensional picture of the aurora's electrical environment. The mission used two rockets and a coordinated network of ground receivers to create a CT-style scan of the plasma beneath the aurora.

Why It Matters

Understanding the northern lights is crucial for predicting space weather, which can affect satellite communications and navigation systems. This knowledge can also help us better understand our planet's magnetic field and upper atmosphere.

Key Facts

• NASA launched two sounding rocket missions to study the northern lights
• The Black and Diffuse Auroral Science Surveyor reached an altitude of about 224 miles (360 kilometers)
• GNEISS used two rockets and a coordinated network of ground receivers to create a CT-style scan of the plasma beneath the aurora
• The mission aimed to understand the powerful electrical forces behind the northern lights
• Understanding the northern lights is crucial for predicting space weather

Key Terms

Auroral current

The flow of electricity that powers the northern lights

Implications

Understanding the northern lights is crucial for predicting space weather, which can affect satellite communications and navigation systems. This knowledge can also help us better understand our planet's magnetic field and upper atmosphere.