On the night of Feb. 4, 2013, NASA Goddard scientists watched a lighted wind-weighting balloon launch to measure the winds and see if conditions were acceptable for a sounding rocket launch in Poker Flats, Alaska.
ISIONS Project Scientist Doug Rowland stands next to the payload during the final days of testing Poker Flats, Alaska before launch on Jan. 30, 2013.
A beautiful view with clear skies greeted the science team for NASA's VISIONS sounding rocket mission (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) on Feb. 1, 2013.
This image shows a beautiful auroral display over Bear Lake, Alaska on Jan. 19, 2005.
The VISIONS instruments are shown here on the table as the team gets them ready for flight. This image was taken Feb. 5, 2013.
NASA's VISIONS (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) sounding rocket will launch in early February, 2013, from the Poker Flat Research Range – the entrance of which is shown here.
On the night of Feb. 2, 2013, a team of NASA scientists waited in Poker Flats, Alaska to see if conditions were right to launch the VISIONS sounding rocket mission (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm). The mission studies what makes the aurora, and how it affects Earth’s atmosphere.
A wind weighting balloon is launched to measure the winds on Feb. 4, 2013, at Poker Flats, Alaska in anticipation of the VISIONS (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) sounding rocket launch.
Inside this geodesic dome is the 11-meter Universal Space Network (USN) Poker Flat Satellite Station antenna in Poker Flats, Alaska. This image was taken Feb. 5, 2013.
The VISIONS team's hotel, on the west side of Fairbanks, Alaska. This picture was taken on Jan. 27, 2013 when the air temperature was -40 C.
The VISIONS (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) sounding rocket team took a group photo after watching the Super Bowl on Feb 3., 2013. VISIONS will study the aurora, and the science team is waiting for the perfect conditions to launch in Poker Flats, Alaska.
A NASA Talos--Terrier-Oriole-Nihka sounding rocket stands ready for launch at the Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska, waiting for the right launch conditions on Feb. 5, 2013. The rocket and VISIONS payload are enclosed in foam to help maintain temperatures.
On the night of Feb. 6, 2013, a green aurora appeared in the Alaskan night sky. Conditions were finally right to launch VISIONS.
On the night of Feb. 6, 2013, a green aurora appeared in the Alaskan night sky. Conditions were finally right to launch VISIONS.
On the night of Feb. 6, 2013, a green aurora appeared in the Alaskan night sky. Conditions were finally right to launch VISIONS.
On the night of Feb. 6, 2013, a green aurora appeared in the Alaskan night sky. Conditions were finally right to launch VISIONS.
The sun sets over Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska. This marks the beginning of the work day for a team of scientists hoping to launch a sounding rocket up into an aurora as part of the VISIONS (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) mission. Tis image was taken Feb. 2, 2013.
VISIONS team members stand in the telemetry readout building to check the payload systems during evening tests two hours before the launch window opens on Feb. 6, 2013.
The VISIONS sounding rocket mission team, assembled on the night of Feb. 6, 2013 at Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska.
A NASA Talos--Terrier-Oriole-Nihka sounding rocket stands ready for launch at the Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska, waiting for the right launch conditions. The rocket and VISIONS payload are enclosed in foam to help maintain temperatures.
NASA-supported VISIONS rocket launched from Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska on Feb. 6, 2013. The rocket flew into an aurora to investigate its properties.
