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Aroh Barjatya to lead NASA Rocket Mission
Barjatya’s team plans to launch three data-gathering or “sounding” rockets in rapid succession — before, during and after the eclipse.
Aroh Barjatya / Image - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
An Indian origin scientist from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida will launch three scientific rockets into space on October 14, 2023, during an annular solar eclipse when the moon partially blocks the sun.
Aroh Barjatya, a professor of Engineering Physics and the director of the Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Lab (SAIL) at Embry-Riddle, has devised a multi-institution NASA rocket mission aimed at studying alterations in Earth's upper atmosphere, which can have implications for air and ground communication systems.
The annular solar eclipse, often referred to as a "ring of fire" eclipse, will be observable in certain regions of the United States, Mexico, and numerous countries in South and Central America.
Barjatya's Atmospheric Perturbations around the Eclipse Path (APEP) sounding rocket mission is set to launch three rockets from NASA's White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, precisely at the moment when the Moon aligns between the Sun and Earth, creating the mesmerizing "ring of fire" phenomenon.
The primary goal of this mission is to study the alterations in the upper atmosphere, particularly during the moment when there is a sudden decrease in sunlight.
Barjatya anticipates retrieving and relaunching the three primary payloads with fresh rocket motors and additional sub-payloads during the total solar eclipse scheduled for April 8, 2024.
In his role as a tenured full professor and program coordinator for the Engineering Physics program at ERAU, Barjatya has demonstrated effective leadership by spearheading the development of a comprehensive five-year strategic plan for the department.
Additionally, he successfully initiated the Spacecraft Instrumentation area of concentration within the major, resulting in a notable 25% increase in program enrollment over the span of three years. Barjatya also conducted regular annual assessments of the program, culminating in a comprehensive five-year review that offered a metrics-based evaluation of the program's advancements and achievements.
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