Andrew Yee[_1_]
January 23rd 07, 01:01 AM
University Relations
University of Alaska-Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
CONTACT:
Poker Flat Research Range, (907) 455-2110
Amy Hartley, Geophysical Institute information officer
(907) 474-5823
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 01/19/07
JOULE II rockets launch with success
By Amy Hartley
Starting today at 3:29 a.m. (AKST [1229 UTC]), four NASA rockets launched
from Poker Flat Research Range into an aurora display over northern Alaska.
Scientists hope to learn more about electrical heating of the thin
atmosphere from about 60 to 120 miles above Earth's surface with the launch
of these rockets. The project is called JOULE II.
Staff at Poker Flat Research Range, located north of Fairbanks, coordinated
with the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure that airspace was secure
before launching all rockets. Each rocket's flight lasted about 12 minutes
and all rockets performed as planned, flying to their desired locations in
space, with precision greater than 95 percent.
Miguel Larsen, a professor at Clemson University, was the principal
investigator for JOULE II, which consisted of two Terrier Orions, a Black
Brant V, and a Black Brant IX. The rockets launched in two pairs. The pairs
consisted of one rocket with instruments to read the detailed structure of
the electrical currents within the aurora, while a second rocket released a
visible tracer of trimethyl aluminum vapor to measure the winds and
turbulence at that altitude range.
Using sensitive digital and film cameras, scientists watching from Poker
Flat, Coldfoot, and Fort Yukon determined how winds in the upper atmosphere
contorted the visible tracer. They will use the information to track the
winds in the aurora region.
The two releases of trimethyl aluminum produced a milky white glow when
exposed to oxygen in the upper atmosphere, and may have been visible over
parts of Alaska.
The instrument packages within the rockets transmitted their information
about aurora currents as they flew through them. The rocket payloads landed
in locations between Fort Yukon and Arctic Village.
Poker Flat Research Range is operated by the Geophysical Institute at the
University of Alaska Fairbanks, under contract to NASA. Scientific sounding
rockets have launched from the facility since 1969.
IMAGE CAPTION:
[http://www.uaf.edu/news/download/releasephotos/07/JOULE_II.jpg (1.65MB)]
This photo captures the third rocket in the JOULE II series to launch
January 19 from Poker Flat Research Range. As part of JOULE II, two pairs of
rockets were launched in a series. Each pair included a rocket that released
a trimethyl aluminum vapor that glowed in the upper atmosphere, and another
full of instruments to track the glowing trails of the vapor as it moved in
the winds 60 to 120 miles above Earth. Photo by Michael "Snap" Conger,
Honeywell
University of Alaska-Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
CONTACT:
Poker Flat Research Range, (907) 455-2110
Amy Hartley, Geophysical Institute information officer
(907) 474-5823
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 01/19/07
JOULE II rockets launch with success
By Amy Hartley
Starting today at 3:29 a.m. (AKST [1229 UTC]), four NASA rockets launched
from Poker Flat Research Range into an aurora display over northern Alaska.
Scientists hope to learn more about electrical heating of the thin
atmosphere from about 60 to 120 miles above Earth's surface with the launch
of these rockets. The project is called JOULE II.
Staff at Poker Flat Research Range, located north of Fairbanks, coordinated
with the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure that airspace was secure
before launching all rockets. Each rocket's flight lasted about 12 minutes
and all rockets performed as planned, flying to their desired locations in
space, with precision greater than 95 percent.
Miguel Larsen, a professor at Clemson University, was the principal
investigator for JOULE II, which consisted of two Terrier Orions, a Black
Brant V, and a Black Brant IX. The rockets launched in two pairs. The pairs
consisted of one rocket with instruments to read the detailed structure of
the electrical currents within the aurora, while a second rocket released a
visible tracer of trimethyl aluminum vapor to measure the winds and
turbulence at that altitude range.
Using sensitive digital and film cameras, scientists watching from Poker
Flat, Coldfoot, and Fort Yukon determined how winds in the upper atmosphere
contorted the visible tracer. They will use the information to track the
winds in the aurora region.
The two releases of trimethyl aluminum produced a milky white glow when
exposed to oxygen in the upper atmosphere, and may have been visible over
parts of Alaska.
The instrument packages within the rockets transmitted their information
about aurora currents as they flew through them. The rocket payloads landed
in locations between Fort Yukon and Arctic Village.
Poker Flat Research Range is operated by the Geophysical Institute at the
University of Alaska Fairbanks, under contract to NASA. Scientific sounding
rockets have launched from the facility since 1969.
IMAGE CAPTION:
[http://www.uaf.edu/news/download/releasephotos/07/JOULE_II.jpg (1.65MB)]
This photo captures the third rocket in the JOULE II series to launch
January 19 from Poker Flat Research Range. As part of JOULE II, two pairs of
rockets were launched in a series. Each pair included a rocket that released
a trimethyl aluminum vapor that glowed in the upper atmosphere, and another
full of instruments to track the glowing trails of the vapor as it moved in
the winds 60 to 120 miles above Earth. Photo by Michael "Snap" Conger,
Honeywell