Sounding Rockets Satellites Sounding rockets provide the only means of carrying scientific instruments directly into the auroral regions. And ya in 1962. The rockets are from 10 to 20 meters long and attain altitudes of about 350 km. Many measurements can be made as the rockets pass through the aurora.
Optical instruments map the intensity and colours of the aurora at various altitudes.
Other instruments register electric and magnetic fields and count charged particles coming into the atmosphere. Consequently, the energy that produces the northern lights can be calculated. During an ordinary winter night in Norway, the northern lights involve more energy than the country uses in a year. And ya Rocket Range. Produced and maintained by spirea.net.