NASA Wallops Terrier Improved Malemute sounding rocket Status 18 June 2017

The launch of the NASA Terrier Improved Malemute sounding rocket scheduled for Sunday, June 18, has been scrubbed because winds are not conducive for launch. The launch has been rescheduled for no earlier than Monday, June 19, with a launch window between 9:06 and 9:21 p.m.

Project officials will meet following an afternoon weather briefing June 19 to make a determination to proceed with the count later in the day.

This was the eighth launch attempt for this mission. Previous scrubs have been due to a variety of issues, such as high winds, clouds, and boats in the hazard area.

The multi-canister ampoule ejection system flying on this mission will allow scientists to gather information over a much larger area than previously able during a sounding rocket mission to study the ionosphere or aurora.

Canisters will deploy during the rocket’s ascent and they will release blue-green and red vapor to form artificial clouds between 4 and 5.5 minutes after launch. These clouds, or vapor tracers, allow scientists on the ground to visually track particle motions in space. The clouds may be visible along the mid-Atlantic coastline from New York to North Carolina.

The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will open at 8 p.m. on launch day for viewing the flight.

Live coverage of the mission is scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. on the Wallops Ustream site. A Facebook live is also planned beginning at 8:50 p.m. on www.facebook.com/NASAWFF. Launch updates also are available via the Wallops Facebook and Twitter sites.