WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Dartmouth researchers participate in aurora study

Dartmouth researchers participate in aurora study

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By WCAX News - bio | email
HANOVER, N.H. -

Dartmouth College helped launch a rocket into space to study the effects of the northern lights on GPS units.

The 46-foot rocket blasted off Saturday from a University of Alaska research station near Fairbanks.

Cornell University is leading the research. Dartmouth, the University of New Hampshire, and two other schools are also participating.

The rocket gathered data Saturday as it flew through the aurora.

NASA funded the mission.

The scientists want to know if electrical activity from the northern lights is interfering with GPS and other signals.

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