Outline

1. Outline • We will launch a sounding rocket north from PFRR. The final stage will include an attitude control system. The ACS would direct the delta-v from the final stage burn so that the payload ends up flying in the flattest possible parabolic trajectory. • Say we want 200 km of trail. If the payload speed is 2 km/sec, this portion of the trajectory will take 100 sec. • Consider just the “down-leg” portion of the trail. This takes 50 sec, with an initial vertical velocity of zero. In 50 sec, the payload will free-fall 0.5  9.8 502  12 km. • At the end of the 50-second downleg, the payload vertical velocity would be 490 m/sec. This means the maximum off-horizontal angle for the trail would be 13. This angle would occur at each end of the 200 km trail. • Of course, we may not need the full 200 km. Shorter trails would be confined to the flattest part of the trajectory. Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks

2. Example flight – Black Brant X (Lynch) Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks

3. In-situ measurements • The following parameters would be useful to measure in-situ, in approximate order of priority: • N2 and O densities, or [O]/[N2] ratio • Neutral temperature • Magnetic zenith optical emission intensities • Electric field • Ion temperature • Electron density Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks

4. Personnel • Project personnel and general area of responsibility: • Science goals – Mark Conde, Roger Smith • Flight instrumentation – John Craven • Trajectory design and vehicle implementation – Gene Wescott • Ground instrumentation – Hans Nielsen • TMA canister – Miguel Larsen Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks