What is This Rocket?

A Black Brant IX sounding rocket is one of hundreds launched by NASA from the UAF Geophysical Institute's Poker Flat Research Range to study the aurora and near-Earth space. The 50-foot-long, two-stage rocket can lift a 500-pound payload to a height of 250 miles. Sounding rockets travel up and back down in a parabolic trajectory and can fly more than 932 miles into space. The payload at the top of the rocket contains scientific instruments that gather data as it reaches its target altitude. Both the payload and the rocket motors re-enter the atmosphere and land downrange from Poker Flat, where they are recovered. Three to six weeks before a launch, teams of NASA and university scientists, engineers, and technicians come to Fairbanks and work with the Poker Flat team to prepare experiments for launch. Because many missions are there to study the aurora borealis, teams may wait days or weeks for ideal conditions. Geophysical Institute scientists also operate ground-based observing instruments at Poker Flat and three other downrange observatories to track the rockets and collect data for future analysis.

College, Alaska · United States