Code 810: Sounding Rockets Program Office
Code 810: Sounding Rockets Program Office
40.020 Black Brant XII/Lessard/University of New Hampshire 2-13-2007
40.020
UE Black Brant XII was successfully launched from Poker Flat Research
Range, Alaska on February 12, 2007. The purpose of this mission is
to investigate various aspects of pulsating aurora. The principal investigator
for this mission is Dr. Marc Lessard of the University of New Hampshire.
The payload consisted of a main payload, sub payload, and two fly away
detectors (FADS).
Visit the Mission Planning Lab (MPL) website to view a simulation of the of the ROPA mission.
ROPA (Rocket Observations of Pulsating Aurora) seeks to understand the response of the magnetosphere to the solar wind and the subsequent transfer of energy to the ionosphere during a pulsating aurora. The pulsating aurora is typically observed after auroral breakup in the post-midnight sector.
Image right shows the Black Brant XII with the ROPA payload launching
from Poker Flat.
One of two primary objectives of ROPA is to acquire large-scale, top-side
images of a pulsating auroral region for comparison to other in-situ
data and to optical data from ground observations. The second main objective is to investigate
current closure associated with pulsating patches.
View
video of mass model boom deployment :
Small (Windows Media file, 0.3 MB)
Large (mpg file, 4.1 MB)
The video (above) shows a sub-assembly of the payload mounted to the Spin-Deployment test facility at Wallops Flight Facility. Deployment tests are conducted to ensure functionality of the deployment systems prior to flight.
Image on right shows the ROPA payload on the vibration table at Wallops Flight Facility.
