NASA conducted two launches of Black Brant IX sounding rockets from the Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska. The missions took place on October 20 and October 22, with both vehicles reaching an altitude of approximately 270 kilometers.
The first mission, launched on October 20 at 10:07 Moscow time, carried the INFUSE II instrument. This experiment was developed by researchers from the University of Colorado to study ultraviolet radiation emitted by stars.
The second flight occurred on October 22 at 08:30 Moscow time. It carried the DUST III payload, which was designed for physical experiments. This project was a collaborative effort between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA.
Sounding rockets provide a platform for research in the upper atmosphere and near-space environments. These missions allow scientists to deploy instruments to altitudes inaccessible to aircraft without the need for full-scale satellite launches.
