Years of hard work have led to this day: the launch of PolarNOx.

A bright green laser light cuts through the dark night sky..
The light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system shines brightly in the moonlit morning. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.

The early morning hours of January 30 were bright, lit clearly by a full moon. The LIDAR system cut through the clouds with an equally clear green laser light, showcasing the path the PolarNOx experiment would take in a few hours. 

A green laser light shines through a starry night with light clouds.
The green LIDAR system is used for targeting the rocket launch. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.

All team members gathered together after arriving at the Poker Flat Research Range to take one last group photo. Inside the launchpad cover, the PolarNOx payload silently waited, protected by layers of foam insulation.

A bright light shines in the covered launch pad.
In the early morning hours, NASA Wallops and Polar NOx team members gathered out launchpad four to take a group photo. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
The PolarNOx team stands together at the rocket launchpad in the early morning hours of the launch.
From left: Savannah Church, Aklima Khatun, Sowmya Muthurangan, Scott Bailey and Justin Carstens share an early morning laugh on the rocket launch pad. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.

Team members were interviewed Shelby Herbert from Alaska Public Media, adding fun to what was an emotional morning for Bailey and the team.

A white woman wearing a black hat with a big pom pom on it holds out a microphone to a white man. The two are seated in chairs.
From left: Shelby Herbert of Alaska Public Media interviews Justin Carstens about PolarNOx. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
A group of six people stand together wearing black shirts and hoodies that say "POLAR NOX."
From left: Savannah Church, Niki Hazuda, Scott Bailey, Justin Carstens, Sowmya Muthurangan, and Aklima Khatun. Photo courtesy of Shelby Herbert.

Just before 5 AM, PolarNOx launched from the Poker Flat Research Range, aiming for the upper atmosphere. After a brief flight, the rocket deployed its parachute and landed on the landed around the range.

A bright light in the distance explodes as the rocket takes flight.
Viewers stand on the viewing deck of the science center as the PolarNOx rocket launches. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
Group members of the POLAR NOX team wander through the covered launch pad after the rocket launch.
The PolarNOx team members take one last look at the scorched rocket rail after the launch of PolarNOx. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
In the headlights of a truck, a white man wearing a dark blue jacket and black hat walks across the dirty snow.
Scott Bailey walks the ground from where PolarNOx launch. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
A white man stands in front of a large rocket rail.
In the aftermath of the rocket launch, Justin Carstens observes the freshly scorched rail where PolarNOx had hung less than an hour before. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
A slight orange light begins to creep over the Alaskan mountains, brightening a blue and black sky.
The sunrise at Poker Flat Research Range after the early morning launch of Polar NOx. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.

After a long four weeks, the team toasts to a successful rocket launch and data collection. PolarNOx has provided data the researchers will analyze for months to come.

Two white men stand in front of a small group of people seated. One has a glass in his hand.
From left: Scott Bailey and Justin Carstens at the banquet after a successful rocket launch. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
A group of diverse people sitting together in a banquet room.
The final banquet celebration. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
A group of diverse people sitting together in a banquet room.
The final banquet celebration. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
A group of five individuals stands in the dark night next to a rocket display. There is a bright moon in the top right corner and snow on the ground.
From left: Scott Bailey, Aklima Khatun, Justin Carstens, Sowmya Muthurangan, and Savannah Church stand outside the opening of the Poker Flat Research Range after a successful rocket launch. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.