Critical Developments Made Through the Sounding Rocket Program

Abstract

Scientists have flown scientific instruments on sub-orbital rockets since the years following World War II when excess rocket motors were made available. Much of our knowledge of heliophysics and astrophysics that now seem well accepted and commonplace have been discovered through the sounding rocket program. The program has also been key in both developing technologies and training scientists and engineers, which have allowed for instruments to be developed for long-term operations satellites. In this talk, I will review critical developments that emerged from the sounding rocket program that have had a lasting impact on our fields.