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Caption Time lapse photo of the NASA Oriole IV sounding rocket with Aural Spatial Structures Probe as an aurora dances over Alaska. All four stages of the rocket are visible in this image.Credit NASAJamie AdkinsMore info On count day number 15, the Aural Spatial Structures Probe, or ASSP, was successfully launched on a NASA Oriole IV sounding rocket at 541 a.m. EST on Jan. 28, 2015, from the Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska. Preliminary data show that all aspects of the payload worked as designed and the principal investigator Charles Swenson at Utah State University described the mission as a raging success. This is likely the most complicated mission the sounding rocket program has ever undertaken and it was not easy by any stretch, said John Hickman, operations manager of the NASA sounding rocket program office at the Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia. It was technically challenging every step of the way.The payload deployed all six sub-payloads in formation as planned and all appeared to function as planned. Quite an amazing feat to maneuver and align the main payload, maintain the proper attitude while deploying all six 7.3-pound sub payloads at about 40 meters per second, said Hickman.Read more .VMkOnEhpEhJ bNASA image use policy.ab bNASA Goddard Space Flight Centerab enables NASAs mission through four scientific endeavors Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASAs accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agencys mission.bFollow us on abbLike us on abbFind us on ab Poster Tags: alaska nasa poker rocket soundingrocket nasagoddard