Get Ready for a Colorful Sky Show!

Tonight is set to be a spectacular evening as NASA prepares to launch three cutting-edge rockets, lighting up the skies with vibrant vapor trails! If you're on the East Coast, don't miss the chance to witness this dazzling display.

Where and When to See It

The launches will kick off from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, with a launch window opening at 10 p.m. ET and extending until 3 a.m. ET. Residents of New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina should have the best seats for this aerial show!

What Are the TOMEX+ Rockets?

These three suborbital rockets are part of the TOMEX+ mission, short for Turbulent Oxygen Mixing Experiment Plus. The mission aims to investigate the mysterious mesopause, a chilling layer of the atmosphere sitting between 53 and 65 miles high, where temperatures plummet to a bone-chilling minus 148 degrees Fahrenheit!

Why Study the Mesopause?

Why all this focus on the mesopause? It’s a crucial zone for understanding our atmosphere, acting as a mixing ground where weather patterns from lower altitudes transfer energy into space—fueling turbulence that can increase satellite drag. Unfortunately, it’s too high for weather balloons and too low for satellites, making sounding rockets the perfect tool for this mission.

What Can You Expect?

Get ready for some impressive visuals! The first two TOMEX+ rockets will launch almost simultaneously, releasing colorful vapor tracers composed of barium, lithium, and aluminum compounds—elements similar to those found in fireworks. They’re harmless to humans and wildlife, so you can enjoy the spectacle worry-free.

A Bumpy Road to Launch

This launch was delayed due to Hurricane Erin, which stirred up the Atlantic, but tonight's forecast shows clear skies for this exciting event! Mark your calendars and prepare for a night of scientific exploration and stunning beauty.