Sounding Rockets Launch from the Marshall Islands

Sounding Rockets Launch from the Marshall Islands

05/08/2013 12:00 AM EDT

Red and white vapor clouds filled the skies over the Marshall Islands as part of NASA's Equatorial Vortex Experiment (EVEX). The red cloud was formed by the release of lithium vapor and the white tracer clouds were formed by the release of trimethyl aluminum (TMA).
These clouds allowed scientists on the ground from various locations in the Marshall Islands to observe the neutral winds in the ionosphere. The EVEX was successfully conducted during the early morning hours on May 7 from Roi Namur, Republic of the Marshall Islands. A NASA Terrier-Oriole sounding rocket was launched at 3:39 a.m. EDT and was followed by a launch of Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket 90 seconds later.

Preliminary indications are that both rockets released their vapor clouds of lithium or trimethyl aluminum, which were observed from various locations in the area, and all science instruments on the rockets worked as planned.
Image Credit: NASA/John Grant

NASA EDGE: Go, No Go for Launch

NASA EDGE: Go, No Go for Launch

05/08/2013 12:00 PM EDT

NASA EDGE talks to Sarah Daugherty, a Wallops Flight Facility Test Director, about what it takes to manage a successful rocket launch.

NASA Television to Air Space Station Soyuz Landing

NASA Television to Air Space Station Soyuz Landing

05/08/2013 12:00 AM EDT

NASA Television will provide live coverage May 12-14 as three crew members aboard the International Space Station end five months in orbit and return to Earth for a scheduled landing May 13.

SPC Tornado/Severe Thunderstorm Watches Update

SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 148 Status Reports

05/08/2013 03:29 PM EDT

WW 0148 Status Updates

    STATUS FOR WATCH 0148 HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED YET  

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SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 148

05/08/2013 03:29 PM EDT

WW 148 SEVERE TSTM CO KS OK TX 081925Z - 090300Z

    URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 148     

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SPC Tornado/Severe Thunderstorm Watches Update

SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 147 Status Reports 05/07/2013 06:55 PM EDT WW 0147 Status Updates STATUS FOR WATCH 0147 HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED YET Read more SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 147 05/07/2013 06:55 PM EDT WW 147 SEVERE TSTM KS OK 072255Z - 080400Z URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 147  NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 555 PM CDT TUE MAY 7 2013  THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A *  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST KANSAS NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA  * EFFECTIVE THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 555 PM UNTIL 1100 PM CDT.  * PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...  SEVERAL LARGE HAIL EVENTS WITH A FEW VERY LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE  SEVERAL DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH POSSIBLE THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH  AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 65   STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 80 MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF GARDEN  CITY KANSAS TO 55 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ALVA OKLAHOMA.  FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU7).  PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...  REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN  AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS  AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES. &&  DISCUSSION...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE INCREASING ACROSS SOUTHWEST KS AND NORTHWEST OK.  THESE STORMS ARE FORMING ALONG AN INSTABILITY AXIS WHERE SUFFICIENT MLCAPE AND STEEP LAPSE RATES  WILL PROMOTE HAIL POTENTIAL IN THE STRONGEST STORMS.  THE LOW LEVEL JET WILL ALSO STRENGTHEN THIS EVENING...HELPING TO MAINTAIN/ORGANIZE THE CONVECTION DESPITE  WEAKENING INSTABILITY AFTER DARK. AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT  TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI  WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 450. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 26025. ...HART    Read more