Scientists at the University of Texas at Dallas are currently preparing instrumentation for three sounding rockets that will be launched in early 1998 from Puerto Rico. The rockets will investigate the composition and dynamics of sporadic-E and intermediate layers in the ionosphere. The rocket experiments are funded and administered by NASA. Theories predict that these layers of plasma form under the action of neutral wind shears in the ionosphere. These winds may be part of the tidal wind system that controls the motions of neutral gas in the upper atmosphere. The thin plasma layers are thought to consist largely of long-lived metallic ions that are released when meteors burn up as they enter Earth's atmosphere. The rocket payloads will measure the winds, ion composition, electric fields, and plasma density within and near these layers to test the theoretical models. Images related to sounding rocket integration and launch activities are presented below.
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Last revised 7/17/96