NASA sounding rocket launch slated for early June 29

DELMARVANOW STAFF REPORT

The launch of the NASA Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket is scheduled for a window between 4:15 and 4:45 a.m., Thursday, June 29, according to NASA officials on Monday.

A Black Brant IX sounding rocket takes off Tuesday, May 16, from Wallops Flight Facility.

The backup launch day is June 30.

The launch window is determined by sun angles and also moon down conditions, NASA officials said. Thus, this launch window is in the early morning compared to the previous evening launch window for this mission.

COLUMN:The little Wallops rocket that couldn't

The rocket is to test a new multi-canister ejection system for deploying vapors in ionosphere or aurora soundings rocket missions.

The vapors will form artificial clouds that may be seen from New York to North Carolina.

The NASA Visitor Center will open at 3:30 a.m. on launch day to view the launch.

Live coverage begins on the Wallops Ustream site at 3:45 a.m. and Facebook Live coverage begins at 4 a.m.