The University of Alaska Fairbanks reported in a release the two-stage, 46-foot rocket will be launched through an active aurora. Findings will allow scientists to understand how space weather affects radio waves as they travel through plasma.
During a period of high sun activity called solar maximum, the university said, ionized gases from the sun could interfere with global positioning systems, satellite Internet and other signals. Data gathered from this launch could help people who design GPS.
UAF's Geophysical Institute is the range operator.
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