Space Physics at Dartmouth -- LaBelle Group | Dartmouth Balloon Group | Theoretical Group
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. A
guest investigator study of the FAST auroral satellite data set allows
statistical investigations of auroral processes. And the laboratory development of a large
calibration/plasma vacuum chamber (the "Elephant") will allow us to
characterize the response of our particle detectors to the 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
Scifer-2 Launch Campaign: 2-16 January 2008
Investigation Title: SCIFER-2: Sounding of the Cusp Ion Fountain Energization Region-2
Click here for updates and photos!!!
Image constructed by Scott Hesh, NSROC
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
To be launched in 2008 from Norway.
ROPA Data Analysis
Investigation Title: ROPA: Rocket Observations of Pulsating Aurora
Picture taken by Scott Hesh, NSROC
The picture above 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.
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 will fly again in February 2008 on the HotPay2 flight from Andoya, Norway.
Cascades2 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-instituions: Cornell, UNH, UAF/GI
Click here for more information about this investigation.
The Cascades1 rocket was launched March 2005 at Poker Flat, Alaska. It suffered a motor failure and did not yield data. Cascades2, a reflight, will fly from Poker in 2009 and is currently under fabrication.