STATUS -- Today was the start of our launch window, which potentially could run until mid-December. Of course, we are hoping to launch much earlier. We are sharing the launch facilities with another rocket, from Dartmouth College with J. LaBelle, PI. It's ironic that we are sitting in such an unusual place with 2 rockets, both from New Hampshire! Anyway, we were not quite ready to launch today because the last tests on the launcher needed to be completed. In any case, winds were 30+ mph both at Andoya Space Center (where launch occurs) as well as in Longyearbyen (more than 600 miles to the north), where the payload will fly over. With winds that strong, the launchers would not even be elevated. Aside from the wind, the skies were nearly completely clouded over, so we could not see if there was any aurora along the trajectory. Tomorrow morning we start again, this time with both rockets ready to go. Hopefully the wind and clouds cooperate!

OUTLOOK -- Everything in our science objectives begins with the need for appropriate solar wind conditions. Today, the solar wind speed was mostly on the slow side, but otherwise cooperative - in terms of magnetic field and plasma densities. We did "observe" some auroral arcs overhead with the EISCAT radar but would not likely have tried to hit these arcs without a better view (i.e., from cameras), but there was no chance of launching because of the winds. Unfortunately, these winds will probably be around for another couple days. The good news is that an active region on the sun is moving into a favorable position to deliver the solar wind we are hoping for.

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