The purpose of the Twin Rockets to Investigate Cusp Electrodynamics II (TRICE-2) missions is to measure cusp signatures of reconnection occurring at the magnetopause during steady IMF Bz southward conditions. This was accomplished by launching two nearly identical instrumented payloads, flying at low and high altitudes, with a variety of separations in time and space.

The Black Brant XII-A is a four stage sounding rocket with a Talos first stage, Terrier second stage, Black Brant third stage and a Nihka fourth stage. The Black Brant XII-A can reach altitudes of about 1400 km. Payloads weighing from 300 to 1000 pounds can be flown. Additional sounding rocket vehicles

Additional sounding rocket vehicles.

The TRICE mission was launched from Andoya Space Center, Norway on December 8, 2018.