NASA to Launch Three Rockets During Total Solar Eclipse to Study Earth's Upper Atmosphere

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. - In an exciting endeavor, NASA plans to launch three Black Brant IX sounding rockets from its Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore during Monday's total solar eclipse. The primary goal of these launches is to study how Earth's upper atmosphere is affected when sunlight dims during an eclipse.

The three rockets will be launched at different times - 45 minutes before the total solar eclipse, during the eclipse, and 45 minutes after the peak local eclipse. The rockets are projected to reach a maximum altitude of 260 miles. However, the launch times are subject to change.

These launches are of great importance as they will provide valuable data on how the disappearance of the sun impacts the ionosphere. NASA explains that these disturbances created during an eclipse have the potential to interfere with communications systems.

The upcoming total solar eclipse over the contiguous U.S. is not expected until 2044, making these experiments a rare opportunity for scientists to collect crucial data on disturbances in the ionosphere caused by the moon eclipsing the sun.

To ensure accurate measurements, the rockets have been equipped with new instrumentation after being successfully recovered from the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, where they were launched and retrieved during the annular solar eclipse held last October.

The ionosphere, located between 55 to 310 miles above the ground, is an electrified region that reflects and refracts radio signals, and has significant impacts on satellite communications. Understanding and predicting disturbances in the ionosphere is crucial for maintaining smooth operation of our communication-dependent world.

In addition to the rocket launches, numerous teams across the country, including students from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, will be taking ionosphere measurements using high-altitude balloons and ground-based radars. Their work will contribute to refining existing models and enhancing our understanding of ionospheric dynamics.

The three launches will be livestreamed on NASA Wallops' official YouTube page, starting at 2:30 p.m. EDT, and will also be featured on NASA's official total solar eclipse broadcast. For those interested in witnessing the launches in person, they can visit the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

The eclipse in the Wallops area is expected to begin around 2:06 p.m., with the moon blocking 81.4% of the sun's light at the peak local eclipse time of 3:23 p.m., concluding at approximately 4:34 p.m. It is crucial for spectators to follow safety guidelines to protect their eyes while observing the eclipse.

This unique endeavor by NASA promises to provide valuable insights into the behavior of Earth's upper atmosphere during a total solar eclipse and will contribute to the development of models to better understand and predict ionospheric disturbances that have the potential to impact our communication systems.