NASA launches suborbital rockets from space centre on Virginia coast

ATLANTIC, Va. – After several delays, NASA has launched five rockets from Virginia that are part of a study of the upper level jet stream.

The rockets began blasting off just before 5 a.m. Tuesday from NASA’s space centre on Wallops Island. Bad weather had postponed other planned launches last week.

Get daily National news

Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you'll never miss the day's top stories.

Sign up for daily National newsletter Get Started

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

The Anomalous Transport Rocket Experiment (ATREX) will help scientists understand the jet stream, which is located 60 to 65 miles above Earth’s surface.

After launching, the rockets released a chemical tracer to form white clouds that allowed scientists and the public to visualize the winds.

A NASA news release says the launches and clouds were reportedly seen from as far south as Wilmington, N.C.; west to Charleston, W.Va.; and north to Buffalo, N.Y.