Indian-origin scientist Aroh Barjatya-led team to decode total solar eclipse effects

Aroh Barjatya inspects the subpayloads, which will eject from the rocket mid-flight. The subpayloads carry the plasma density, neutral density, and magnetic field sensors. (File image credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility)

Aroh Barjatya, an Indian-origin scientist, who is a professor of engineering physics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, is spearheading a scientific mission set to coincide with the total solar eclipse on April 8.

A total solar eclipse on April 8 is set to cross North America, passing over Mexico, across the United States from Texas to Maine, and continuing over Canada’s Atlantic coast. During a total solar eclipse, the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, fully blocking the face of the Sun. As a result, the sky will become dark, as if it were dawn or dusk.

NASA said that led by Barjatya, the Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) mission will deploy three Black Brant IX sounding rockets from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility launch range in Virginia to examine the effects of the Sun’s sudden disappearance on the ionosphere, a region of Earth’s upper atmosphere. By studying the disturbances created when the Moon eclipses the Sun, scientists aim to better understand the dynamics of Earth’s upper atmosphere and its potential impact on communication systems, the US space agency noted.

NASA announced that the sounding rockets are planned to launch three times: 45 minutes prior to, during, and 45 minutes following the peak local eclipse on April 8, commencing at 2.40 p.m. EDT. The scheduled launch times for the three rockets are 2.40 p.m., 3.20 p.m., and 4.05 p.m., although the timings are potentially adjustable.

Understanding Earth's ionosphere

The ionosphere, situated between 55 to 310 miles (90 to 500 kilometers) above the ground, serves as the interface between our planet's lower atmosphere – where we live and breathe – and the vacuum of space. Comprising a vast array of particles, it becomes ionized—charged electrically by the Sun's radiation. During nighttime, the ionosphere undergoes a reduction in density as ionized particles recombine into neutral ones. However, it remains a dynamic region, susceptible to influences from both terrestrial and space weather, posing challenges in predicting its behavior at any given time.

APEP rockets multiply data collection with secondary instruments

The APEP rockets will ascend to 260 miles, equipped to measure particle density and electric/magnetic fields with secondary instruments. Additionally, teams across the U.S., including students from Embry-Riddle, will deploy high-altitude balloons and operate ground-based radars to measure the ionosphere. This collaborative effort aims to refine existing models and gain a comprehensive understanding of ionospheric dynamics. “Each rocket will eject four secondary instruments the size of a two-liter soda bottle that also measure the same data points, so it's similar to results from fifteen rockets, while only launching three,” NASA quoted Barjatya as saying.

Barjatya stresses importance of ionosphere understanding for communication reliability

According to Barjatya, the importance of understanding the ionosphere, an electrified region that affects radio signals and satellite communications, and developing predictive models for disturbances in the ionosphere is crucial for ensuring the smooth operation of our communication-dependent world.

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“It’s an electrified region that reflects and refracts radio signals, and also impacts satellite communications as the signals pass through, Understanding the ionosphere and developing models to help us predict disturbances is crucial to making sure our increasingly communication-dependent world operates smoothly,” NASA quoted Barjatya.

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Refurbished sounding rockets to relaunch for 2024 Eclipse study

The sounding rockets, previously launched and recovered from White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico during the October 2023 annular solar eclipse, have been refurbished with new instruments and will be relaunched tomorrow. Scientists observed a significant reduction in charged particle density during the eclipse, particularly affecting radio communications. Barjatya expressed excitement to relaunch them during the upcoming total eclipse to further study the perturbations. “We saw the perturbations capable of affecting radio communications in the second and third rockets, but not during the first rocket that was before peak local eclipse. We are super excited to relaunch them during the total eclipse, to see if the perturbations start at the same altitude and if their magnitude and scale remain the same,” said Barjatya.

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These experiments present a rare opportunity for scientists to gather vital data, as the next total solar eclipse over the contiguous US is not expected until 2044.

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