NASA is preparing to launch three small research rockets from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia late Monday night, creating colorful vapor trails that may be visible across parts of the US East Coast.
What the Mission Studies
The rockets are part of the TOMEX+ mission (Turbulent Oxygen Mixing Experiment Plus), designed to study the mesopause — the coldest part of Earth’s atmosphere, located 53–65 miles above the surface. With temperatures plunging to -148°F, this region acts as a “mixing ground” where lower-atmosphere weather patterns transfer energy into space, influencing turbulence that can affect satellite launches.
Since weather balloons can’t reach this altitude and satellites orbit too high, sounding rockets are the only way to capture direct data from this layer.
Launch Window & Viewing
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET – 3:00 a.m. ET
- Location: Wallops Island, Virginia
- Visibility: If skies are clear, residents across New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina may spot the colorful vapor trails.
The first two rockets will release vapor tracers containing small amounts of barium, lithium, and aluminum compounds — similar to materials in fireworks. These compounds will glow in different colors, creating visible streaks. The third rocket will fire a laser to track how turbulence twists and moves the vapor trails.
NASA emphasized that the tracers are released in tiny amounts and are not harmful to people or wildlife.
Why It Matters
The mesopause is a critical but poorly understood part of the atmosphere. Studying its turbulence can help scientists better understand weather, climate dynamics, and satellite performance. The TOMEX+ mission is expected to deliver valuable insights into how energy moves between Earth’s atmosphere and space.
Earlier launch attempts were postponed due to Hurricane Erin, which created unsafe sea conditions for rocket recovery.