Iono-Instruments

The Creative Inquiry team, composed primarily of physics and mechanical engineering students, is working to develop hardware that will fly on a NASA sounding rocket in November 2025. The students are designing and constructing a small radio receiver and a Langer probe to be deployed on the rocket. These devices use different techniques to measure electron densities in the ionosphere, a layer of the atmosphere spanning 50–100 km above Earth’s surface. Ionospheric electron density is an important parameter to measure, as variations in the electron density can impact highfrequency radio wave communications that are utilized globally.

The team needs to ensure that their instruments are ready for their November launch date. Over the summer, they will conduct integration and testing at the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. This will allow the students a chance to gain valuable, hands-on experience in all aspects of the design review process. “Being a part of this project really helped me figure out what I want to do with mechanical engineering,” Regan O’Neil, a junior mechanical engineering major, said.

The hard work of the Creative Inquiry team will all pay off in November when they travel to Norway for their launch. The instruments the team has been tirelessly developing will be deployed on a NASA sounding rocket.

“It’s a really outstanding opportunity to actually really get your feet wet...this could lead to a career, possibly at Wallops, working at NASA or working in aerospace in general,” Kaeppler said.