NASA Launches Five Rockets in Five Minutes
NASA image captured March 27, 2012
NASA successfully launched five suborbital sounding rockets this morning from its Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia as part of a study of the upper level jet stream. The first rocket was launched at 4:58 a.m. EDT and each subsequent rocket was launched 80 seconds apart. Each rocket released a chemical tracer that created milky, white clouds at the edge of space. Tracking the way the clouds move can help scientists understand the movement of the winds some 65 miles up in the sky, which in turn will help create better models of the electromagnetic regions of space that can damage man-made satellites and disrupt communications systems. The launches and clouds were reported to be seen from as far south as Wilmington, N.C.; west to Charlestown, W. Va.; and north to Buffalo, N.Y.
Credit: NASA/Wallops
To watch a video of the launch and to read more go to: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/missions/atrex-launch...
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
Follow us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Find us on Instagram
Comments and faves
Alan Dorzbächer, Scott Stringham "Rustling Leaf Design", kingmothra, christian kluge, and 100 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Tim S. Trebla (14 months ago | reply)
that must be the biggest smoke rings ever made...
Jeff Berkes Photography (14 months ago | reply)
Awesome Shot! Congrats on a succesful mission!
Smile Moon (14 months ago | reply)
You're being like my Uncle NASA, impressing all of us kids by blowing smoke rings!
Jeff Berkes Photography (14 months ago | reply)
I'm sorry, this is stellar, I can't stop looking at it
♫ Lion ♫ (14 months ago | reply)
Fantastic!
Topher's Mom (14 months ago | reply)
WOW!
Lensface.com (14 months ago | reply)
My son took that. And he scored on Decatur.
Matt Molloy (14 months ago | reply)
Lovely shot! Can I get my hands on that fancy cloud making stuff? Or is it just for scientists?