Four rockets launched into northern lights to study turbulence

Four NASA soundings rockets were launched within a half hour into the northern lights in an effort to better understand and visualize turbulent air currents in the upper atmosphere.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the rockets appeared to have produced data in the early Monday morning launches near Fairbanks.

The launches into the active aurora in minus 40 degree weather came after 13 straight nights of unsuitable weather for a launch.

Two rockets were led by University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute's Rich Collins to measure turbulence. The institute says in a release that the other two rockets led by Miguel Larsen of Clemson University released a visible vapor to help researchers visualize turbulence about 60 miles above the ground.