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Lynch Rocket Lab

Research Overview

In this lab we are studying the structure and dynamics of auroral acceleration. This study has several parts. Sounding rocket missions such as Cascades use multiple-payload probes to look a spatial and temporal variations in auroral precipitation. Data analysis studies of the FAST and Cluster satellite data sets allow statistical investigations of auroral processes. And the laboratory development of a large calibration/plasma vacuum chamber (the "Elephant") allows us to characterize the response of our particle detectors to the thermal auroral plasma. Many students both undergraduate and graduate work on our lab, and one project (Greencube) is a student-run small-spacecraft design and launch project.

Ongoing Projects

Cascades-2 in Fabrication

Investigation Title: The Changing Aurora: In Situ and Camera Analysis of Dynamic Electron Precipitation Structures

Principal Investigator and Institutions: Kristina Lynch, Dartmouth College

Co-institutions: Cornell, UNH, UAF/GI

Click here for more information about this investigation.

Cascades-2 will fly from Poker in 2009 and is currently under fabrication.

Green Cube

Investigation Title: Green Cube

The undergraduates of the Lynch Rocket Lab, with the help from some professors and professionals, are constructing a payload similar to the CubeSat, which is a small satellite prototype established by CalPoly and Stanford Universities. Similar satellites have been used by many other universities and student satellite programs because of its relatively easy and inexpensive design. Our group is developing a payload that is effectively three of these CubeSats combined spatially, so that we are not limited by the 100 sq. cm. of the prototype. In June 2008 our payload will fly on a bursting balloon that should reach approximately 90,000 ft. in the air before falling back to earth with a parachute. The total flight should take approximately two hours.

Learn more....

Time lapse movie of launch practice done on October 23...      Click here for more images.

Scifer-2 Launch - January 2008

Investigation Title: SCIFER-2: Sounding of the Cusp Ion Fountain Energization Region-2 Updates and photos Data and Results The picture above shows the trajectory of the Scifer-2 rocket over Svalbard. Principal Investigator and Institutions: Paul M. Kintner, Jr., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Launched in 2008 from Norway over the EISCAT radar.

Image constructed by Scott Hesh, NSROC

ROPA Data Analysis

Investigation Title: ROPA: Rocket Observations of Pulsating Aurora The picture shows the launch of the ROPA rocket on February 12, 2007. Click here to see data analysis progress. Click here to follow progress of launch campaign. Principal Investigator and Institutions: Marc Lessard, UNH Launched in 2007 at Poker Flat, Alaska.

Picture taken by Scott Hesh, NSROC

Elephant Laboratory Facility

Click here for current updates and photos!

Investigation Title: Elephant

Principal Investigator and Institutions: Kristina Lynch (Dartmouth College)
An NSF Career grant funds the ELEPHANT project.

DUST project successfully launched!

Click here for current updates and photos!

Investigation Title: DustOrions, a study of mesospheric meteoric dust layers

Principal Investigator and Instituions: Kristina Lynch (Dartmouth College); Co-Is Lynette Gelinas (Cornell), Richard Collins (UAF/GI)

Co-investigators and Institutions: Lynette Gelinas (Cornell), Richard Collins (UAF/GI)

Was launched March 2005 at Poker Flat. The DustDetector was flown again in February 2008 on the HotPay2 flight from Andoya, Norway, and in July 2008 on the ECOMA Project, also from Andoya.