The launch also tested a new motor and material that could help future rockets become cheaper and lighter

Will help Nasa study how the Earth's magnetic field impacts planet's ionosphere 60 miles above ground


Large parts of the US East Coast were treated to a stunning light show this evening.

Nasa launched a rocket from its Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia which released barium and strontium into the atmosphere.

This mixture caused parts of the night sky to glow blue and green, while painting some clouds red.

The launch took place just after 7pm ET (11pm) and was visible by anyone living under clear skies in the US' mid-Atlantic region.

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Large parts of the US East Coast were treated to a stunning light show this evening. Nasa launched a rocket from its Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia which released barium and strontium into the atmosphere. This mixture caused parts of the night sky to glow blue and green

WHY STUDY THE IONOSPHERE? The ionosphere, which begins above 60 miles above the ground, is a layer of charged particles surrounding our planet. This evening's launch collected data on the charged particles as well as winds of neutral particles that sweep through the lower ionosphere and how each affects the other, ultimately causing these dynamo currents. The variations matter because all of our communications and GPS satellites send signals through the ionosphere. A disturbed ionosphere translates to disturbed signals, so scientists want to know just what causes the ionosphere to behave in specific ways. Advertisement

A spokesperson for Nasa told DailyMail.com that while the clouds were visible by many, camera phones are unable to capture them well.

He added that Nasa will release more photos tomorrow.

Sherree Ross Setzer wrote on Nasa's Facebook page: 'Saw it in from Stafford, Virginia! The chemical release was fascinating. We thought it looked like a space portal opening from a science fiction movie.'

Nasa regularly conducts launches such as this to study the movement of ionised and neutral particles in the upper atmosphere.

The launches usually last anywhere between 20 to 30 minutes.

The chemicals released by the Black Brant sounding rocket allowed scientists to better spot clouds as the Earth's magnetic field pushes them around the ionosphere.

The ionosphere, which begins above 60 miles above the ground, is a layer of charged particles surrounding our planet.

It serves as the medium through which high frequency radio waves, including those sent down to the ground by global positioning system satellites, travel.

The rocket helped collect data on the charged particles as well as winds of neutral particles that sweep through the lower ionosphere and how each affects the other, ultimately causing these dynamo currents.

The variations matter because all of our communications and GPS satellites send signals through the ionosphere.

A disturbed ionosphere translates to disturbed signals, so scientists want to know just what causes the ionosphere to behave in specific ways.

Around six minutes after launch, the sounding rocket deployed four sub-payloads containing mixtures of barium and strontium.

These mixtures created stunning clouds that painted the skies over the US Eastern coast blue-green and red in colour.

Residents from Long Island, New York, 235 miles north of the launch site, to Morehead City, North Carolina, 232 miles south, 165 miles west in Charlottesville, Virginia - and everyone in between - were able to get a glimpse of the colourful evening launch.

Pictured on the left is an image of a glowing green cloud caused by the rockets vapour trails, taken in Frederica, Delaware. On the right is a glowing cloud that appeared in Spring City, Pennsylvania for around 10 seconds

An image posted to Facebook by Jessica Lauer shows a faint blue cloud from the launch. A spokesperson for Nasa told DailyMail.com that while the clouds were visible by many, camera phones are unable to capture them well

Residents from Long Island, New York, 235 miles north of the launch site, to Morehead City, North Carolina, 232 miles south, 165 miles west in Charlottesville, Virginia - and everyone in between - were able to catch a glimpse of the colourful evening launch. This map shows where the sounding rocket was visible across the Mid-Atlantic

Nasa regularly conducts launches such as this to study the movement of ionised and neutral particles in the upper atmosphere. Pictured are some of the colourful clouds created by previous sound rockets. The chemicals released by the Black Brant sounding rocket allow scientists to better spot clouds as the Earth's magnetic field pushes them around the ionosphere

Sounding rockets, also called suborbital rockets, are valuable tools in qualifying technologies for flight.

As part of this suborbital flight, Nasa modified Black Brant sounding rocket motor, launch vehicle and spacecraft systems and sub-payload ejection technologies.

'The flight provides an opportunity to test new technologies being developed for space missions and science conducted using sounding rockets,' said Cathy Hesh, technology manager in the Sounding Rocket Program Office at Wallops, ahead of the launch.

During the flight of the two-stage Black Brant IX sounding rocket, Nasa tested a section of the payload made using something known as near net shape (NNS).

The machined and welded construction process for most sections of conventional rockets is expensive, adds weight and has a high degree of risk.

The NNS technology tested a new fabrication method on the most forward section of the rocket.

Using the NNS integrally stiffened cylinder (ISC) process, a barrel section was made in a single step that formed the cylinder and its stiffeners.

The hope is that this technology could someday lower a rocket's mass and, as well as its cost.

Nasa said the amount of barium and strontium used in the test was much smaller than that used in a typical July 4 fireworks display and posed no hazard to the public.

It has yet to release the full results of the test.

As part of this suborbital flight, Nasa modified Black Brant sounding rocket motor, launch vehicle and spacecraft systems and sub-payload ejection technologies. The rocket is shown on the left waiting to be launched, and on the right, soon after launch

The colourful clouds started forming around 6 minutes after launch. Pictured is a previous test of a sounding rocket conducted on the Marshall Islands