(Photo: NASA)WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. (WBOC/AP)- NASA is planning a rocket launch from its facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore to test technology that will be used in two upcoming science missions.
A Terrier-Improved Orion sounding rocket is scheduled to be launched between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday from NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility.
Mission project manager Libby West said two methods for creating red-colored lithium vapor trails will be tested during the flight.
Two missions are scheduled later this year that will use the lithium trails to assist scientists in observing events in space. The first is scheduled for April in the central Pacific Ocean from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands and the second will occur in June at Wallops. NASA wants to determine which configuration is best for helping scientists observe phenomena in space.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are backup launch days.
The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will be open on launch day for public viewing of the launch.
The mission will be available live on Ustream beginning at 4:30 p.m. on launch day at: http://www.ustream.com/channel/nasa-wallops
Mission status on launch day can be followed on Twitter and Facebook at:http://www.twitter.com/NASA_Wallops or http://www.facebook.com/NASAWFF
Mission status also is available on the Wallops launch status line at 757-824-2050.
More information on the NASA Sounding Rocket Program is available at:http://www.nasa.gov/soundingrockets
