NASA set to launch research rockets to study impact of total solar eclipse
On April 8, NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia will be launching three research rockets to study the impact of the total solar eclipse on Earth’s upper atmosphere. The rockets, collectively named Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP), will be gathering crucial data on how the disappearance of the Sun affects the ionosphere, an electrified region that is essential for communication and satellite operations.
The rockets will be launched at 45-minute intervals before, during, and after the eclipse to collect comprehensive data on the phenomenon. NASA hopes to better understand how the solar eclipse triggers atmospheric waves and disturbances that can interfere with communication systems. The rockets are expected to reach a maximum altitude of 260 miles and will be ejecting four instruments to study the eclipse.
In addition to the rocket launches, NASA will also be conducting additional investigations, including deploying high-altitude balloons, to gather more data during the eclipse. These rockets were previously launched in October 2023 to analyze an annular solar eclipse and have been restored and updated for the upcoming mission.
For those unable to attend in person, NASA will be broadcasting the total solar eclipse on April 8 and will be offering livestream videos of the rocket launches on Wallops’ YouTube page. The public is also welcome to attend a live viewing in Virginia to witness this rare event in person. Be sure not to miss this groundbreaking research on the impact of the total solar eclipse on Earth’s atmosphere.
