A sounding rocket launches from White Sands, New Mexico, during the Oct. 14, 2023, annular solar … [+]
The prospect of NASA firing rockets into the sky during Monday’s total solar eclipse may seem alarming. It shouldn’t be. The project, called APEP, is solely to take atmospheric measurements during a time when Earth’s atmosphere will cool. It’s one of many eclipse experiments being conducted under the NASA umbrella.
The catalyst, of course, is the moon, which will move gradually across the sun on Monday, as seen from North America. The three rockets will collect data on how a drop in sunlight and temperature during an eclipse affects Earth’s upper atmosphere.
Atmospheric Experiment
However, this will not be an examination of what happens during a total solar eclipse. NASA will not be firing rockets into the moon’s darkest umbral shadow, only its lighter outer penumbra.
That’s because NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia—from where the “Atmospheric Perturbations Around The Eclipse Path” project’s rockets will blast-off off—is outside the path of totality, that 115 miles-wide path through parts of Mexico, 15 U.S. states and Canada.
At the peak of the event, Wallops Island will see 81% of the sun blocked by the moon.
When And Where To Watch NASA Launch Three Rockets Into The Eclipse
The space agency has confirmed that NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia will provide a livestream, with commentary, of the three sounding rocket launches.
The livestream will begin at 2:30 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 8 on NASA Wallops’ YouTube channel. That’s 10 minutes before the scheduled launch time.
The partial solar eclipse will take place at Wallops between 2:06 p.m. EDT and 4:33 p.m. EDT, with the peak of the eclipse occurring at 3:33 p.m. EDT.
Exactly When NASA Will Launch Three Rockets Into The Eclipse
According to NASA, the launch window for the mission is 2:40 p.m. EDT through 4:05 p.m. EDT. The three rockets are scheduled to launch about 45 minutes apart.
APEP is led by Dr. Aroh Barjatya, a professor of engineering physics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Where To Watch NASA’s Coverage Of The Total Solar Eclipse
If you want to watch NASA’s rocket launch, consider having another livestream going at the same time. The space agency will host live coverage of the eclipse from at 1-4 p.m. EDT (17:00 to 20:00 UTC) on April 8, with live views from across the path of totality.
For the very latest on the total solar eclipse—including travel and lodging options—check my main feed for new articles each day.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
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