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In a significant event set for April 8, 2024, NASA will deploy three Black Brant IX sounding rockets from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia to investigate the influence of solar eclipses on the upper atmosphere. The APEP mission seeks to examine the atmospheric response to the transient absence of sunlight. Launches are timed at 2:40 p.m., 3:20 p.m., and 4:05 p.m. EDT, coinciding with stag by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 05, 2024
In a significant event set for April 8, 2024, NASA will deploy three Black Brant IX sounding rockets from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia to investigate the influence of solar eclipses on the upper atmosphere. The APEP mission seeks to examine the atmospheric response to the transient absence of sunlight. Launches are timed at 2:40 p.m., 3:20 p.m., and 4:05 p.m. EDT, coinciding with stages before, during, and after the peak of the eclipse, although the schedule might adjust.
The visibility of these launches stretches across the mid-Atlantic, with safety reminders to utilize solar glasses for eclipse observation. The eclipse at Wallops commences at 2:06 p.m., peaking at 3:23 p.m. by obscuring 81.4% of the solar brightness, and wraps by 4:34 p.m.
NASA extends an invitation to witness the launches and the partial eclipse from the Wallops Visitor Center, accessible from 1 to 5 p.m. on the launch day. Admission is contingent on parking availability, with restrictions on vehicle size. Attendees can enjoy solar-related activities, expert interactions, and food options, alongside provisions for a sensory-friendly area.
Parallel to this, NASA's WB-57 jets are set to ascend 50,000 feet above ground to capture unparalleled views of the eclipse, aiding three scientific teams in their quest to understand the solar corona and its effects on Earth. This venture into the skies is poised to extend the eclipse experience by over a minute, with the planes experiencing a longer duration of totality due to their speed and altitude.
The scientific endeavors aboard these jets aim to shed light on the corona's structure, its temperature, and the solar wind's origins through spectrometers and cameras. Additionally, the effort seeks to explore the ionosphere's behavior under the shadow of the Moon, potentially enhancing our comprehension of solar radiation's impact on crucial technologies like radar and GPS.
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