Rock Sat launch scheduled for Wednesday at Wallops

Students will soon have a chance to see their scientific research take flight from Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility is preparing for the RockSat mission, scheduled for launch June 24th or 25th between 5:30 and 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time from Wallops Island. The mission will use a Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket as part of the RockSat educational program.

RockSat gives college students the opportunity to design, build, and fly their own scientific experiments aboard a sounding rocket, providing hands-on experience with real-world aerospace research.

While Wallops is known for NASA launches, information about non-NASA missions is available through the Launch Range Blog. NASA’s sounding rocket and range teams also conduct launches around the globe, including sites in Alaska, Norway, the Marshall Islands, and Australia, traveling wherever scientists need to collect data.

For those hoping to watch the launch in person, the Launch Viewing Area at the Wallops Visitor Center offers one of the best public views of the launch pads and is located just a few miles from the range.

For more information about the RockSat program and launch updates, visit NASA Wallops Flight Facility online.