Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Credit: NASA
Three Black Brant IX sounding rockets are set to launch from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia as part of the Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) mission.
Credit: NASA
Scheduled to commence on April 8, 2024, at 2:40 p.m. EDT, the launches will coincide with the peak local eclipse, occurring approximately 45 minutes before, during, and after the eclipse.
Credit: NASA
The APEP mission aims to investigate the impact of a solar eclipse on Earth's upper atmosphere by launching the sounding rockets during the dimming of sunlight over a portion of the planet.
Credit: NASA
The launches will be livestreamed on the Wallops YouTube channel, providing viewers with real-time access to the mission's progress.
Credit: NASA/Kyle Hoppes
Weather permitting, spectators in the mid-Atlantic region may be able to witness the launches. The NASA Wallops Visitor Center will be open to the public for viewing the launches and the partial eclipse.
Credit: NASA Wallops/Terry Zaperach
The visitor centre will offer solar-related activities, featuring NASA sounding rocket experts and Globe Program expert Brian Campbell, who will demonstrate eclipse data collection using the Observer app.
Eclipse glasses and pinhole viewers will be provided to guests at the visitor centre, with food trucks offering refreshments during the event.
A designated sensory-friendly quiet area will be available at the Wallops Visitor Center, catering to guests who may require a quieter environment during the viewing event.
Credit: NASA