Northern Lights and Launch Madness

SPARKLE PLENTY: As Annabelle and CJ sat at the kitchen island this morning working on their math (more multiplication exercises in hopes they'll actually start memorizing some more of the times tables), I couldn't help but smile at the sun glinting off Annabelle's tutu. Yes, people, you heard me right. SUN. Shining. In Seattle. In the morning.  No wonder the kids were both up shortly after 6 a.m.

On the other hand, the sun had the opposite affect on Kirby. She just stretched out and stayed put.

MARCH LAUNCH MADNESS: NASA held a press conference this morning to announce the details of the "5 in 5" event at Wallops Island, Virginia, later this month. It's called the ATREX mission, an acronym for Anomalous Transport Rocket Experiment. We checked out the corresponding Web site with mission information: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/missions/atrex-nightlight.html

The purpose of the mission is to learn more about winds in a little understood region of Earth's atmosphere, 60 to 65 miles above Earth's surface, where winds rush at speeds of 200 to 300 miles per hour.

Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

The area in question is lower than a typical satellite's orbit but higher than where most planes fly. NASA will launch a series of five sounding rockets - each  35 to 40 feet long - with just a minute or so between each launch. Lordy, how I'd love to see that!

                                Cute lil sounding rockets - Credit: NASA/Wallops

The rockets will ascend for 8-10 minutes, and once they reach their targets, they'll release a chemical tracer, trimethyl aluminum (TMA). The tracer will form white clouds that should reveal the nearly space winds. 

According to NASA, "This rocket experiment is designed to gain a better understanding of the high-altitude winds and help scientists better model the electromagnetic regions of space that can damage man-made satellites and disrupt communications systems. The experiment will also help explain how the effects of atmospheric disturbances in one part of the globe can be transported to other parts of the globe in a mere day or two."

More info is available here:  http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/missions/atrex-nightlight.html

TEST TIME: This afternoon, the kids had their unit-end test on weather and air.  They have spent a couple hours the last couple of days quizzing one another in preparation. They both think their cramming paid off.  Annabelle thinks she aced the 20-question test; CJ thinks he might have missed 1 or two. They'll find out their results next week.

FREE TIME: This afternoon Annabelle spent some time upstairs crafting creatures with her K'Nex. After awhile she called me up to see a critter collection. This one way my fave.

NIGHT LIGHTS: I read an exciting story in the Seattle Times this evening. Due to the crazy huge solar flares recently, there's a chance we might get to see the Northern Lights in Seattle tonight or tomorrow. It would be after midnight. I am most definitely setting my alarm and getting up to check it out. If I see anything, you can be sure I'll be dragging everyone out to look with me!

WHAT HE SAID: This morning, my favorite astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, testified before a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee about the importance of funding NASA. I sure more people would listen to what he has to say. I think he's spot on about space program's role in our past and our future. The video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Xhc25v0DpJc