NASA Launches Twin Rocket Missions From Alaska to Study Mysterious Black Auroras

Why It Matters

The data provides critical insight into space weather processes that can disrupt satellite operations and terrestrial power systems, enhancing predictive capabilities for geomagnetic storms.

Key Takeaways

• BADASS rocket reached 224 miles altitude
• GNEISS rockets achieved 198 miles altitude each
• Missions target black auroras and electric currents
• Data will improve space weather forecasting
• Findings aid satellite and power grid protection

Pulse Analysis

Auroras are more than a visual spectacle; they are the visible imprint of complex plasma interactions between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere. Among these displays, black auroras—regions where electrons are propelled upward rather than precipitating—remain poorly understood, yet they signal a reversal in the usual energy flow that can amplify geomagnetic disturbances. By probing these elusive features, scientists hope to decode the underlying electrodynamic circuitry that governs how energy is transferred from space to the upper atmosphere, a key factor in space‑weather modeling.

The twin missions launched from the Poker Flat Research Range employed sounding rockets equipped with high‑resolution electric field sensors, particle detectors, and imaging spectrometers. BADASS ascended to 360 km, directly sampling the plasma environment of a black aurora, while the GNEISS pair reached 319 km and flew in formation to triangulate current pathways, effectively producing a three‑dimensional “CT scan” of the auroral column. Coupled with a ground‑based receiver network, the measurements will allow researchers to reconstruct the spatial distribution of currents and assess how they dissipate through the ionosphere.

Understanding these current systems has immediate commercial relevance. Accurate forecasts of geomagnetic storms can protect satellite constellations, mitigate radiation exposure for astronauts, and prevent cascading failures in power grids and aviation communications. The insights gained from BADASS and GNEISS will feed into next‑generation space‑weather models, enabling utilities and satellite operators to adopt proactive mitigation strategies. Moreover, the missions demonstrate the value of low‑cost, rapid‑turnaround rocket experiments, paving the way for more frequent, targeted investigations of transient space‑environment phenomena.

NASA launches twin rocket missions from Alaska to study mysterious black auroras

By Julian Dossett · published 23 hours ago

NASA launched two rockets from Alaska this week to learn more about the electrical “circuitry” within auroras, the colorful light shows that occur when solar wind collides with Earth’s atmosphere.

The missions saw two sub‑orbital sounding rockets launch from the Poker Flat Research Range near Fairbanks, Alaska, loaded with scientific equipment that flew into the atmosphere for a short period of time to gather data.

The destination for the rockets in both missions was the northern lights, or aurora borealis.

BADASS mission

The Black and Diffuse Auroral Science Surveyor (BADASS) mission launched in the early morning of Feb. 9 to study black auroras—an event that occurs when electrons shoot up into space instead of flowing toward Earth, which is what happens with other auroras.

The rocket reached an altitude of 224 miles (360 km) before falling back to Earth. BADASS mission principal investigator Marilia Samara said everything went according to plan and that the scientific instruments on the rocket performed as expected, returning high‑quality data that NASA can use to study black auroras and what causes the electron‑stream reversal.

GNEISS mission

The Geophysical Non‑Equilibrium Ionospheric System Science (GNEISS) mission—pronounced “nice”—used a pair of sounding rockets to create a “CT scan” of the electric currents flowing in the northern lights.

The GNEISS rockets launched back‑to‑back on Feb. 10 and reached peak altitudes of 198 miles (319 km) each. The launches went according to plan, gathering data that NASA will use to look into auroras’ inner workings.

“We want to know how the current spreads downward through the atmosphere,” Kristina Lynch, GNEISS principal investigator and Dartmouth College professor, said in a NASA statement.

“It’s essentially like doing a CT scan of the plasma beneath the aurora.”

Using the two rockets together with a network of ground receivers, the data gathered during the flight will allow researchers to create a three‑dimensional view of an aurora’s electrical environment.

Studying auroras is important because they are associated with geomagnetic storms, which can cause technical issues for satellites in space and endanger astronauts. On Earth, such storms can lead to power blackouts, air‑travel diversions, and interference with radio transmissions.

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About the author

Julian Dossett is a freelance writer living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He primarily covers the rocket industry and space exploration and, in addition to science writing, contributes travel stories to New Mexico Magazine. In 2022 and 2024, his travel writing earned IRMA Awards. Previously, he worked as a staff writer at CNET. He graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos in 2011 with a B.A. in philosophy and owns a large collection of sci‑fi pulp magazines from the 1960s.