NASA's Wallops Flight Facility Prepares for Student-Led Rocket Launch

Wallops Island , located in Accomack County , Virginia , is gearing up for an exciting Space launch . NASA 's Wallops Flight Facility is making final preparations to launch a sounding rocket on Tuesday , August 13 . This rocket will be carrying student - developed experiments as part of the RockSat - X mission . It is always exciting to see the innovative projects that students come up with for these launches .

The Terrier - Improved Malemute sounding rocket is the chosen vessel for this mission . It is anticipated to soar to a height of approximately 100 miles in the sky before descending back down into the Atlantic Ocean where it will be retrieved . This is quite the journey for a rocket and certainly a thrilling experience for the students involved in the project .

Nine universities and community college teams have contributed projects to be included on this launch . These experiments cover a range of scientific interests , from measuring temperatures in the earth 's ionosphere to collecting data on greenhouse gases . One particularly intriguing experiment involves testing a space - rated robotic arm that is capable of tracking and capturing objects in space . The variety of experiments on board truly showcases the talent and creativity of the student teams involved .

The launch is scheduled to occur between the early morning hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. It is always an awe - inspiring sight to witness a rocket taking off into the vast expanse of space . The anticipation leading up to the launch is palpable , and the excitement is infectious . We look forward to seeing the successful deployment of all the student experiments and the valuable data they will collect .

As we eagerly await the launch from Wallops Island , we are reminded of the incredible advancements that NASA continues to make in space exploration . Their dedication to fostering student interest through programs like RockSat - X is commendable . The future of space exploration is undoubtedly in good hands with the bright minds of these students leading the way . Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting space launch and the innovative experiments being conducted.