Measuring the winds of space: UAF team prepares for 2014 launch

The sounding rocket released bright puffs of tri-methyl aluminum, which scientists track from the ground to study winds near the lower boundary of space. The streak on the bottom right is formed by chemicals that have been moved and distorted by winds and turbulence.

Photo Courtesy Carl Andersen

On a clear, cold night two winters ago in Fort Yukon, Carl Andersen watched a rocket he helped design pierce the upper atmosphere. He and three other scientists shot pictures as the rocket ejected bright puffs of chemicals in an inverted V formation more than 60 miles up.

“They were the brightest things in the sky,” Andersen said from his office at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Alaska Science Forum: Measuring the winds of space

Publishing Information
Release Date: 
2013-04-25
Teaser Title: 
Researching upper atmospheric winds
Teaser Text: 
Complex rocket payloads to aid examination of thermosphere

By molly [dot] rettig [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu (Molly Rettig) Carl Andersen

 

On a clear, cold night two winters ago in Fort Yukon, Carl Andersen watched a rocket he helped design pierce the upper atmosphere. He and three other scientists shot pictures as the rocket ejected bright puffs of chemicals in an inverted V formation more than 60 miles up.

 

Department
Department: 
Outreach Office
Poker Flat
Space Physics
Other

Donald Hampton

Office Information
Phone: 
(907) 455-2256
Research Group(s): 
Poker Flat
Research Group(s): 
Space Physics
Positions Held: 

Oct. 2001-Present: Research Assistant Professor in Space Physics, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Nov. 2006-Oct. 2011: Optical Science Manager, Poker Flat Research Range and Geophysical Institute Chief Systems Engineer, Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

2005-2006: Chief Systems Engineer, Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

1999-2006: Systems Engineer, Deep Impact Instrument Suite, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

1996-1999: System Engineer, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

Selected Publications: 

Lynch, K.A., D. Hampton, M. Mella, B. Zhang, H. Dahlgren, M. Disbrow, P.M. Kintner, M. Lessard, E. Lundberg and H.C. Stenbaek-Nielsen. (2012). Structure and dynamics of the nightside poleward boundary: Sounding rocket and ground-based observations of auroral electron precipitation in a rayed curtain. Journal of Geophysical Research, 117, A11202, doi: 10.1029/2012JA017691.

Nicolls, M.J., S.L. Vadas, J.W. Meriwether, M.G. Conde and D. Hampton. (2012). The phases and amplitudes of gravity waves propagating and dissipating in the thermosphere: Application to measurements over Alaska. Journal of Geophysical Research, 117, A05323, doi: 10.1029/2012JA017542.

Garner, T.W., R.B. Harris, J.A. York, C.S. Herbster, C.F. Minter III and D.L. Hampton. (2011). An auroral scintillation observation using precise, collocated GPS receivers. Radio Science, 46, RS1018, doi: 10.1029/2010RS004412.

Samara, M., R.G. Michell, K. Asamura, M. Hirahara, D.L. Hampton and H.C. Stenbaek-Nielsen. (2010). Ground-based observations of diffuse auroral structures in conjunction with Reimei measurements. Annales Geophysicae, 28, 873-881.

Semeter, J., T. Butler, C. Heinselman, M. Nicolls, J. Kelley, D. Hampton. (2009). Volumetric imaging of the auroral ionosphere: Intital results from PFISR. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 71, 738-743.

A'Hearn, M.J. et al. (35 in all, including D.L. Hampton). (2011). EPOXI at Comet Hartley 2. Science, 332(6036), 1396-1400, doi: 10.1126/science.1204054.

Sunshine, J.M., et al. (19 in all, including D.L. Hampton). (2005). Exposed water ice deposits on the surface of Comet 9P/Tempel 1. Science, 311, 1453-1455.

A'Hearn, M.F., et al. (33 in all, including D.L. Hampton). (2005). Deep Impact: Excavating Comet Tempel 1. Science, 310, 258-264, 14 October 2005.

Hampton, D.L., J.W. Baer, M.A. Huisjen, C.C. Varner, A. Delamere, D.D. Wellnitz, M.F. A'Hearn and K.P. Klaasen. (2005). An overview of the instrument suite for the Deep Impact mission. Space Science Review, 117, 43-93.

Hampton, D.L., M.J. Heavner, E.M. Wescott and D.D. Sentman. (1996). Optical spectral characteristics of sprites. Geophysical Research Letters, 23, 89-92.

Successful launch from Poker Flat Research Range

Release Date: 2013-02-07
Conditions at Poker Flat Research Range weren’t indicative of a possible launch on the evening of Feb. 6, 2013. The skies were cloudy and the aurora wasn’t out,VISIONS launches from Poker Flat Research Range, February 2013 but then, a camera stationed downrange at Kaktovik, Alaska showed some promising aurora. From there, everything lined up to create the perfect conditions for the VISIONS sounding rocket to launch. At 11:21 p.m.

Poker Flat Research Range prepares rocket for launch

Publishing Information
Release Date: 
2013-02-01
Teaser Title: 
Rocket preparations underway at PFRR
Teaser Text: 
VISIONS aims to learn more about auroral wind

 

Department
Department: 
Outreach Office
Poker Flat
Space Physics
Other

Rocket parts picked up in northern Alaska

A rocket part recovery in summer 2012 from the Marsh Fork of the Canning River in northern Alaska.

Courtesy Poker Flat Research Range.

Following up on a NASA promise to recover spent rocket parts scattered for decades across northern Alaska, workers for Poker Flat Research Range recovered more than 7,000 pounds of debris from 17 different sites in 2012.

NASA evaluates rocket program at PFRR: Draft EIS prepared, public meetings set for 2012

Publishing Information
Release Date: 
2012-10-16
Teaser Title: 
Rocket program at PFRR reviewed
Teaser Text: 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement ready, public meetings planned

NASA draft EIS for sounding rocket program at Poker Flat 2012 flyerThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration will host two public meetings to provide further information regarding its draft Environmental Impact Statement for its Sounding Rocket Program conducted at the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Poker Flat Research Range.

Department
Department: 
Outreach Office
Poker Flat
Space Physics
Other

Stakeholders to set goals for unmanned aircraft in Alaska

Release Date: 2012-09-21

 

Stakeholders to set goals for unmanned aircraft in AlaskaAeryon Scout

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 21, 2012

 

CONTACT: Amy Hartley, GI information officer, 907-474-5823, amy [dot] hartley [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu

 

Rockets & Gold: Poker Flat Research Range Open House recap

Publishing Information
Release Date: 
2012-07-24
Teaser Title: 
Rockets & Gold: PFRR Open House
Teaser Text: 
Event reveals high community interest in range

 

Jessica Garron at Rockets & Gold: Poker Flat Research Range Open House 2012
The rain never let up, but that didn’t stop the excitement of the attendees to the Rockets & Gold: Poker Flat Research Range Open House. The event, scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 19, drew more than 200 people who toured lower range facilities, built rockets, learned about unmanned aircraft and the history of Poker Flat.

 

Department
Department: 
Alaska Satellite Facility
Outreach Office
Poker Flat

Frontier Scientists features University of Alaska Unmanned Aircraft Program

Publishing Information
Release Date: 
2012-06-19
Teaser Title: 
Frontier Scientists features UAVs
Teaser Text: 
Site has articles, video & images

 

Department
Department: 
Education Group
Outreach Office
Poker Flat
Remote Sensing

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