Home > Rockets > Cascades > Updates > Monday 28 Feb/Tuesday March 1

CASCADES - Update - Monday 28 Feb/Tuesday March 1

This is Kristina Lynch, the principal investigator, standing next to the launch pad holding the rocket.

We had a beautiful event come through this evening with a classic substorm signature and very intense activity; however, it was snowing at Poker and a blizzard at Kaktovic so we couldn't see it optically very well. The fact that we could see it at all through the clouds just brought home the fact of how strong it was. The magnetic and solar wind signatures however were very clear, and the science team used the event as a lesson in when to call the launch: given the indications of an oncoming event, when do you decide to drop below the 10-minute hold point in the countdown? When do you decide to keep going past the 3-minute hold point?

This afternoon there was a trip to the launch pad. The pictures today show just how LARGE this rocket is.