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Wallops Flight Facility
The next rocket launch is currently scheduled for no earlier than Friday night of, March 16-17
Launch madness will hit the east coast in March as NASA launches five rockets in approximately five minutes to study the high-altitude jet stream from its Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
The high probability of unacceptable weather is preventing a launch attempt on March 16.
The Anomalous Transport Rocket Experiment (ATREX) will gather information needed to better understand the process responsible for the high-altitude jet stream located 60 to 65 miles above the surface of the Earth.
As part the mission, the five rockets will release a chemical tracer that will form milky, white clouds that allow scientists and the public to “see” the winds in space. These clouds may be visible for up to 20 minutes by residents from South Carolina to southern New Hampshire and Vermont.
A decision on a March 17 launch attempt will made late Friday afternoon, March 16.
In order for the launches to occur, clear skies are required at three special camera sites located along the coast in Virginia, North Carolina and New Jersey.
NASA has used TMA for decades as part of rocket studies from sites worldwide to study the near-space environment. TMA burns slowly and produces visible light that can be tracked visually and with special camera equipment.
The products of the reaction when TMA is exposed to air or water are aluminum oxide, carbon dioxide and water vapor. Aluminum oxides are used to combat heartburn and to purify drinking water. Also, all three products occur naturally in the atmosphere. The TMA poses no threat to the public during preparation on the ground or during the release in space.
To try to spot the sounding rocket trails, follow the launch status updates at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/missions/atrex.html
*** Mission updates are available by telephone on the Wallops Information Line at (757) 824-2050
Rocket launches at WFF can be difficult to view due to the small size of some sounding rockets. Travel plans should not be based strictly on launch schedules. Times and dates can change due to weather and other factors. Rocket launches can be viewed from WFF Visitor Center grounds during operation hours or from south-facing areas on Chincoteague and Assateague islands in Virginia.
+ Rocket launches can also be seen on the web: NASA WFF webcast
Space Shuttle Discovery Fly-In Day
Discovery will be transported atop a NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA),
a modified 747 jet, to Dulles International Airport in Virginia on April 17.
After arriving at Dulles, Discovery will be removed from the SCA and moved
to the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center for permanent public display on April 19. For more information on the shuttle's preparations for public display, visit:
A number of operations related to the ferry flight, begins when the SCA arrives at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility runway. That arrival currently is targeted for April 10.
All media accreditation requests must be submitted online at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
LIVE Coverage on NASA TV
@StargazerUSA On Saturday night, September 19 around 7:50 p.m. EDT, it looked like a passing comet or a giant, luminous amoeba. But this was pure rocket science. Courtesy of Wallops Island Flight Facility, in Virginia.
The cloud was created by a Black Brant XII sounding rocket.
An Event 400 Years in the Making
"Comets and Life On Earth"
Shuttle / ISS Visibility Predictions
for Dover, DE
Not near Dover?
For NASA TV streaming video, scheduling and downlink information, visit: NASA will provide continuous mission updates online, including a webcast and a blog, at:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
Live updates to the NASA News Twitter feed will be added throughout the shuttle launch countdown, mission and landing. To access the NASA News Twitter feed and other agency Twitter feeds, visit:
IOTA Occultation Manual free Download
The International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) has just released a new book on Occultations. It's a free, online and ready for downloading PDF file. It is 388 Pages.
If you like to time the disappearance of stars (and asteroids, planets. . . ) and reappearances along the lunar limb, you will find this manual to be a great resource.
http://www.poyntsource.com/IOTAmanual/Preview.htm
From the Preview Website:
"The International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) wants you for the most exciting observations you can make – occultations ! Never before has there been an opportunity to contribute to the body of scientific knowledge about the lunar limb profile and the size of shape of asteroids plus a host of other occultation phenomena. . ."
"Occultations occur when one celestial body passes in front of another, temporarily blocking its light. The observation of these "eclipse" events provides important information on the celestial body responsible for the eclipse. . ."
"All astronomers, both amateur and professional, can make occultation observations.This book has all the necessary information one needs to begin a successful occultation program. Whether you are a novice observer, or an advanced observer with a video system, you can assist in the search for asteroidal moons, help discover new double stars and help determine the size of the Sun during solar eclipses. . ."
"Written by IOTA's most experienced astronomers, this is the only book you'll need for occultation observations of stars by the Moon, by asteroids, and other solar system bodies. It includes an extensive set of Appendices, and over 120 figures and diagrams, 388 pages.
Chasing the Shadow: The IOTA Occultation Observer'sManual
- is currently online, FREE as an e-book. . ."
Go straight for it:
http://www.poyntsource.com/IOTAmanual/IOTA_Observers_Manual_all_pages.pdf
Thanks go out to the AOS for the link!