CASCADES2

Principal Investigator: Kristina Lynch

Changing Aurora: in Situ and Camera Analyses of Dynamic Electron precipitation Structures-2 (CASCADES2) was launched on March 20, 2009 at 110400 UT as a re-flight of the CASCADES project.  The project consisted of a main payload and two electric field measuring subpayloads as well as two free-flying particle detector subpayloads (PFFs). The goal of the sounding rocket is to study the electron precipitation and electric fields associated with discrete aurora, including possible Alfvénic structures on the poleward side of the aurora.

The trajectory of the CASCADES2 main payload was tracked by narrow and medium field ground cameras located at Toolik Field Station and Kaktovik, AK.   The launch event consisted of dynamic field aligned structures over Toolik and brighter rayed structures just north of Kaktovik. Measurements were also provided by the Poker Flat Incoherent Scatter Radar (PFISR).

CASCADES2 payload

Brent Sadler working on imager

.MPEG VIDEO OF CASCADES2 EVENT, KAKTOVIK NARROW FIELD

Related links
Wallops Flight Facility article
Physorg.com article

Down range blogs:
http://alaskanrocketadventure.blogspot.com/  (Allison Jaynes at Kaktovik)
http://toolikblawg.blogspot.com/  (Sarah Jones at Toolik Field Station)