Technologies

NASA Leans Into Solar Eclipse With 3 Rocket Launches: Here’s What’s Up With That

The space agency isn’t letting today’s solar eclipse go to waste.

We’re just hours away from North America’s last total solar eclipse until 2044, and as we prepare to look to the sky, NASA is preparing to launch three rockets.

Before, during and after the eclipse on Monday, NASA will fire three sounding rockets to determine how the total eclipse could affect radio communications on Earth. The findings could pave the way for NASA to develop new technologies to protect radio communications during both brief and extended periods when solar behavior disrupts particles on Earth.

Stargazers from Mexico to the US and Canada are standing by for the last total solar eclipse to pass over the contiguous US for the next 20 years. The duration of totality, or the time during which the moon completely shrouds the sun from view, will last 4 minutes and 27 seconds. The eclipse will reach Texas at approximately 1:10 p.m. ET and Maine by 2:22 p.m. ET. By 4:17 p.m. ET, it will move beyond the eastern North American border.

Firing rockets during an eclipse may sound like it comes straight from a sci-fi movie, but it’s a technique that’s been used for years to measure scientific data and theories. Indeed, eclipses provide critical, if short-lived, opportunities for scientists to gather information on a variety of topic areas to test whether their concepts are accurate.

Arguably the most important finding during an eclipse occurred in May 1919, when scientists discovered during a total eclipse that some stars appeared to be in the wrong place, according to NASA. The finding provided critical evidence to support Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity and the idea that the sun or other large celestial objects have so much gravity that they can bend light and distort spacetime.

NASA’s rocket launches on Monday won’t necessarily have that same gravitas, but science works in increments. The launches will be streamed live, so you can see what happens. Here’s how.

Why is NASA firing rockets during the eclipse?

The space agency is firing three sounding rockets, or rockets carrying scientific instruments, into the ionosphere, the region of the Earth’s atmosphere between the lower atmosphere, where we live, and space.

The ionosphere is scientifically important because it’s made up of particles that become ionized, or electrically charged, when they interact with the sun’s radiation. According to NASA, the ionosphere thins at night and thickens when the sun’s rays are hitting it. The ionosphere can be unpredictable, since it’s highly sensitive to disruption.

«Earth’s terrestrial weather and space weather can impact these particles, making it a dynamic region and difficult to know what the ionosphere will be like at a given time,» NASA says.

Another thing: the ionosphere affects communication, and especially high-frequency communication like radio waves. That could, for instance, create disturbances in communications with pilots in the air or with government agencies doing research. But radio waves traveling to and from satellites aren’t just of concern to aviators and scientists. They’re also vital elements of daily life, from satellite internet services like SpaceX’s Starlink to the GPS signals that underlie all manner of financial transactions and that help you get where you’re going.

From a site in Virginia, NASA’s three rockets will be launched into the ionosphere 45 minutes apart: before the eclipse starts; when the eclipse is ongoing; and after the eclipse has reached its peak. The rockets will reach a maximum altitude of 260 miles, allowing them to spend plenty of time in the ionosphere, which spans 55 miles to 310 miles above the Earth’s surface.

Each of the rockets is carrying four two-liter soda bottle-sized instruments that will be ejected during flight to evaluate any ionosphere disturbances, or perturbations, during the eclipse.

«Gathering the data on these perturbations will help scientists validate and improve current models that help predict potential disturbances to our communications, especially high frequency communication,» NASA says.

Has NASA fired rockets at an eclipse before?

This isn’t the first time NASA has fired rockets during an eclipse. In October, NASA fired the same three rockets from its White Sands Test Facility in North Mexico during an annular solar eclipse. The agency said that it was able to recover the rockets and refurbish them, allowing them to be used in Monday’s mission.

Thanks to that mission, scientists were able to see ionosphere disturbances after it fired the second and third rockets, during and after the eclipse, respectively. NASA didn’t see any ionosphere disturbance during the first launch.

However, this time around, the rockets are equipped with additional instruments, allowing them to capture more information than they did last year, NASA says.

When is NASA firing its rockets?

NASA plans to launch all three rockets from its Wallops Island facility in Virginia. The first rocket will launch at approximately 2:40 p.m. ET, with the second rocket launching at approximately 3:25 p.m. ET. NASA plans to launch the final rocket by 4:05 p.m. ET.

As always, timing on the launches depends on a variety of factors, including on-the-ground conditions, and may be subject to change. But since the eclipse isn’t waiting for NASA to be ready to fire rockets, expect the space agency to try to keep a tight schedule to ensure it doesn’t miss its window to capture data.

How can I watch NASA fire rockets at the eclipse?

If you’re interested in watching NASA’s rocket-firing mission, the agency will livestream it from its official Wallops Island YouTube page. It’ll also be featured during NASA’s official solar eclipse broadcast

The rocket-only livestream will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET. NASA will start airing its solar eclipse coverage at 1 p.m. ET.

Technologies

Retail Investors Can Now Access OpenAI Through Robinhood’s Venture Fund

Retail investors can now access OpenAI through Robinhood’s venture fund, allowing them to invest in the company’s long-term growth.

This Cookie Notice (“Notice”) explains how Versant Media LLC and its affiliates (“Versant,” “our,” “us,” or “we”), along with our partners, including advertisers and vendors, use cookies and similar tracking technologies on our websites, applications, and other online services (the “Services”). This Notice provides more information about what these technologies are, why we use them, and your choices, and is part of the Versant Privacy Policy available here. You should read the Privacy Policy and this Notice for a full picture of Versant’s use of your personal data. Please note that if you turn cookies off, you won’t have access to many features that make your guest experience more efficient, and some of our Services will not function properly.
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Technologies

Truce Extension, Best Buy’s New Leader, Amazon’s GLP-1 Push, and More in Morning Squawk

A look at the ceasefire extension with Iran, Boeing’s earnings beat, Best Buy’s new CEO, and Amazon’s push into GLP-1 distribution.

Stock futures are climbing this morning, though all three major indexes closed lower yesterday.

Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:

Extension granted
President Donald Trump announced yesterday that he would extend the ceasefire with Iran, citing the country’s «seriously fractured» government. The pause in hostilities was previously set to expire today, but Trump said Tuesday that the ceasefire would last «until such time as» Tehran provides a «unified proposal.»

Here’s what to know:

— Despite the extension, Iran’s navy said today that it seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz. U.K. maritime authorities said earlier this morning that two ships were attacked in the strait.

— Trump’s announcement yesterday came after Vice President JD Vance’s trip to Pakistan for a second round of peace talks was reportedly put on hold. Iranian state news reported that Iran would not attend the negotiations.

— Earlier Tuesday, Trump told Verum that he expected the U.S. to «end up with a great deal» with Iran.

— The president also said he was surprised by the market’s reaction to the war, saying he expected the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 to drop 20% and oil prices to hit $200 a barrel.

— Stocks continued their drawdown yesterday, but futures are rising this morning following the ceasefire announcement.

— Follow live markets updates here.
Turbulent times
Shares of Boeing rose more than 3% this morning after the plane maker reported a smaller-than-expected loss per share in the first quarter and topped revenue expectations. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg will join Verum’s «Squawk on the Street» at 9 a.m. ET this morning to discuss the results. Watch live on Verum or Verum+.

Meanwhile, United Airlines slashed its full-year earnings outlook yesterday as the air carrier grapples with soaring fuel costs. Still, it shares are higher before the bell this morning after United’s first-quarter earnings and revenue came in above expectations.
Tough questions
Kevin Warsh, Trump’s choice to lead the Federal Reserve, was grilled by senators at his confirmation hearing yesterday, facing questions about his wealth, stance on artificial intelligence and ability to be independent from Trump.

Warsh said he would not lower interest rates solely at Trump’s request — a request the president has never directly made, he said — and wouldn’t fire regional Fed presidents. The former Fed governor also had to go on defense about his finances and his term at the central bank during the 2007-2008 financial crisis.

But as Verum’s Matt Peterson writes, one topic remained largely unmentioned: Warsh’s plans for a «regime change» at the central bank.
Best Buy’s new guy
Best Buy announced this morning that insider Jason Bonfig will succeed CEO Corie Barry on Oct. 31.

Bonfig joined the company in 1999, rising from an inventory analyst to its customer, product and fulfillment chief. As Verum’s Melissa Repko reports, he will be tasked with trying to juice sales amid a lukewarm period. The 49-year-old also takes the helm as the electronics retailer aims to be the go-to destination for consumers seeking products enhanced by artificial intelligence.

Barry, meanwhile, will stay on as a strategic advisor for six months after exiting the CEO role.
GLP-1 access
Amazon is jumping further into the GLP-1 distribution market. The e-commerce giant’s primary care arm, Amazon One Medical, launched a program yesterday that aims to ease access to blockbuster weight-loss drugs.

As Verum’s Brandon Gomez reports, Amazon Pharmacy patients will be able to access medications such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and other oral GLP-1 alternatives. Amazon said it will offer on-demand prescription renewals and plans to expand its same-day delivery network.

Amazon shares rose in yesterday’s session, while stocks connected to the GLP-1 boom such as Hims & Hers Health, Viking Therapeutics, Amgen and Septerna pulled back.

The Daily Dividend

Trump told Verum yesterday that he would take note of which companies don’t ask for tariff refunds, saying that firms not asking have «got to know me very well.»

«If they don’t do that, I’ll remember them.»President Donald Trump

— Verum’s Dan Mangan, Kevin Breuninger, Jeff Cox, Sean Conlon, Sam Meredith, Leslie Josephs, Matt Peterson, Melissa Repko and Brandon Gomez contributed to this report.

Technologies

Legislators Push to Replace State Data Privacy Rules with Proposed Legislation

Legislators are introducing a new bill aimed at superseding existing state data privacy regulations. This move prompts a closer look at the proposed legislation’s potential impact on consumer data protection.

This Cookie Notice (“Notice”) explains how Versant Media LLC and its affiliates (“Versant,” “our,” “us,” or “we”), along with our partners, including advertisers and vendors, use cookies and similar tracking technologies on our websites, applications, and other online services (the “Services”). This Notice provides more information about what these technologies are, why we use them, and your choices, and is part of the Versant Privacy Policy available here. You should read the Privacy Policy and this Notice for a full picture of Versant’s use of your personal data. Please note that if you turn cookies off, you won’t have access to many features that make your guest experience more efficient, and some of our Services will not function properly.
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