NASA Scientists Observe the Earth’s Atmosphere Leaking into Space

December 10, 2019

This time-lapse photograph shows the first stages of the VISION-2 Black Brant X rockets as they leave the launch pad from Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, in Norway. Credits: NASA/ Allison Stancil-Ervin
This time-lapse photograph shows the first stages of the VISION-2 Black Brant X rockets as they leave the launch pad from Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, in Norway. Credits: NASA/ Allison Stancil-Ervin

In the tiny Arctic town of Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Norway, north of the Arctic Circle, where polar bears outnumber people, winter means three months without sunlight. The unending darkness is ideal for those who seek a strange breed of northern lights, normally obscured by daylight. When these unusual auroras shine, Earth’s atmosphere leaks into space.

NASA scientists traveled to Ny-Ålesund to launch rockets through these auroras and witness oxygen particles right in the middle of their escape. Piercing these fleeting auroras, some 300 miles high, would require strategy, patience — and a fair bit of luck. The Mission is called VISIONS-2 and rockets were launched Dec, 7, 2018. SESDA Outreach staff travelled with the scientists to help document and report their story and continuing science results. This video describes the mission: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSt5peITUBo&feature=youtu.be

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