NASA is gearing up to launch three rockets into the darkness of the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8th (9th for certain regions), equipped with specialized science instruments to observe alterations in Earth’s atmospheric layers.
Scheduled for the precise moment when the moon aligns perfectly between the sun and the Earth, these rockets will be launched from locations in America, Canada, and Mexico.
The research aims to investigate the sudden atmospheric changes that occur when sunlight is abruptly blocked during the eclipse. Typically, the sun’s rays gradually diminish and reach their peak at noon, with transmission tapering off in the evening. However, NASA scientists seek to understand the effects of an abrupt halt in sunlight during this concentrated period.
The Earth’s atmosphere plays a crucial role in blocking radiation from the sun’s rays. During an eclipse, gases are exposed to radiation, causing them to heat up and ionize, resulting in the surface layer becoming electrically charged. As the Earth rotates, sunlight ceases in the affected area, prompting the atmosphere to return to its normal state. However, studying these changes proves challenging due to their rapid occurrence.
NASA’s new experiment aims to fully identify these phenomena, as within minutes of a solar eclipse, radiation enters the atmosphere, triggering various alterations. The science instruments deployed via rockets have already been integrated with satellites, enabling real-time transmission of detected data back to NASA during the launch.
