NASA recently launched two rocket missions from Alaska to investigate a puzzling phenomenon in the Northern Lights: black auroras. These unusual displays, unlike typical auroras that flow towards Earth, send electrons shooting upwards into space. The missions – dubbed BADASS and GNEISS – aim to understand why this reversal happens and how it affects Earth’s upper atmosphere.
The Black Aurora Anomaly: What is BADASS?
The first mission, the Black and Diffuse Auroral Science Surveyor (BADASS), launched on February 9th, reaching an altitude of 224 miles before returning to Earth. Its goal was to study these dark auroras up close. According to principal investigator Marilia Samara, the rocket’s instruments functioned perfectly, gathering high-quality data.
Black auroras aren’t just a curiosity; they indicate unusual electrical activity in Earth’s magnetosphere. Understanding them is crucial because they’re linked to geomagnetic storms – disturbances that can disrupt satellites, endanger astronauts, and even cause power outages on the ground.
Mapping Auroral Currents: GNEISS Takes a ‘CT Scan’ Approach
Following BADASS, the Geophysical Non-Equilibrium Ionospheric System Science (GNEISS) mission deployed two rockets in quick succession on February 10th. These rockets, reaching altitudes of 198 miles each, were designed to create a three-dimensional “CT scan” of the electric currents within auroras.
Kristina Lynch, GNEISS principal investigator at Dartmouth College, explained that the team wants to map how these currents flow downward through the atmosphere. By combining rocket data with ground-based receivers, they will construct a detailed view of the aurora’s electrical environment. This is especially useful, because the auroral environment is dynamic and changes rapidly.
Why This Matters: Beyond the Light Show
Studying auroras isn’t just about beautiful light displays. Geomagnetic storms, which are often triggered by the same processes that create auroras, can have serious consequences:
- Satellite disruptions: Storms can damage or disable satellites, impacting communications and navigation.
- Astronaut safety: Increased radiation during storms poses risks to astronauts in space.
- Ground-level impacts: Power grids, air travel, and radio communications can all be affected.
By understanding the underlying mechanisms of auroras, NASA hopes to better predict and mitigate these risks, protecting vital infrastructure and ensuring the safety of space exploration.
These missions represent a significant step towards unraveling one of Earth’s most fascinating atmospheric mysteries. The data collected will provide crucial insights into the complex interplay between solar winds, Earth’s magnetic field, and the electrical currents that drive these spectacular light shows.
