According to NASA, 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
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Aroh Barjatya, an Indian-origin scientist, who is a professor of engineering physics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, is leading 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.
As a Professor of Engineering Physics and Director of Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Lab at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), Barjatya has have more than 16 years of experience in space systems engineering and aerospace instrumentation research. He has led and developed innovative projects involving sounding rockets, CubeSats, high-altitude balloons, embedded electronics, and space situational awareness, collaborating with NASA, AFRL, and other federal agencies and industry partners.
