NASA scientists launch season's final rocket

On the morning of April 27, NASA scientists aided by Poker Flat Research Range personnel launched the final rocket from the range for 2011. Two other launches successfully went off in January and early February. The April 27 rocket was a Terrier Black Brant launched so NASA scientists could study the rocket’s performance in the upper atmosphere and test recovery aids packed into the rocket’s 22.5-foot payload. The launch went well and on April 29 workers for Poker Flat and NASA recovered the payload by helicopter northwest of Venetie.