The program is led by astronomer Stephen Kaeppler of Clemson University. Two rocket This is equipped with sensor tools aurora region is active . They plan to measure the wind, temperature and the density of the plasma in Aurora.
The dancing lights of the aurora form when charged particles from space crash into molecules in Earth’s upper atmosphere. These collisions increase the energies of electrons in atmospheric molecules, causing electrons to orbit their nuclei in higher energy states.
The electrons drop back to their original energy state, releasing a photon, or light particle, when they do so. These photons produce the shifting curtains of green, purple, and red seen at extreme latitudes.
Kaeppler and his team are interested in the boundary between neutral gases in the atmosphere and plasma, or charged gases that are becoming increasingly common in the upper atmosphere. The molecular disturbance of the aurora disturbs the boundary layer between the neutral gas in the lower atmosphere and the plasma in the upper atmosphere. The disturbance leads to friction, and so the researchers were able to measure its temperature.
A conceptual animation showing electrons traveling along Earth’s magnetic field lines, colliding with particles in Earth’s atmosphere to trigger the aurora.
Rocket The team’s first released plumes of colorful vapor as it flew to an altitude of 299 km. These vapors, similar to the chemicals that give fireworks their many colors, drift through the atmosphere, allowing researchers to trace atmospheric winds.
The next rocket is designed to reach a maximum altitude of 201 km to carry temperature and density measuring devices inside the aurora. The rockets fell back to Earth shortly after taking the measurements.
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