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Science Mission Directorate | Science

Science Mission Directorate | Science

Science

Science

NASA launches rockets to study mysterious, high-altitude cloud-like structures that can disrupt communication systems

Science Mission Directorate | Science
Summary
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80% Informative

Sporadic-E ElectroDynamics, or SEED , opens its three-week launch window from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands on Friday, June 13 .

SEED mission will study high-altitude cloud-like structures that can disrupt critical communication systems.

The ionosphere is a layer of Earth ’s atmosphere that stretches from 40 to 600 miles above sea level.

On ascent, the rocket will release colorful vapor tracers to measure wind patterns in three dimensions.

The data will be transmitted back to the ground as the rocket descends.

On another night during the launch window, the team will launch a second , nearly identical rocket to collect additional data.