NASA plans to launch three sounding rockets from its Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia during Monday’s solar eclipse.
The Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) mission will help scientists to delve into the effects of the eclipse on Earth’s upper atmosphere.
Residents in and around the Newtown area, weather conditions permitting, might catch a glimpse of the rockets’ ascent. However, NASA officials have issued a reminder for everyone watching the eclipse to use solar safety or “eclipse” glasses to prevent eye damage.
The launch window is set to open on Monday at 2:40 p.m., which is when the eclipse will be visible over the area.
What Will Monday’s Solar Eclipse Look Like In Newtown?
The launches are spaced out through the afternoon, with targeted liftoffs at 2:40 p.m., 3:20 p.m., and 4:05 p.m., but those times are subject to adjustment based on weather and other factors.
The trio of Black Brant IX rockets is scheduled to ascend into the sky approximately 45 minutes before, during, and after the eclipse reaches its zenith.
The timing is planned to capture the atmospheric conditions before, during, and after the eclipse and data on how a sudden reduction in sunlight affects the planet’s upper atmosphere, according to NASA officials.
NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility plans to livestream the launches on its YouTube channel starting at 2:30 p.m.
