NASA has initiated a mission to study mysterious cloud-like structures that disrupt critical communication systems by launching rockets from a remote Pacific island. The mission, known as Sporadic-E ElectroDynamics (SEED), has begun its three-week launch window from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands on June 13.

The atmospheric features being studied, called Sporadic-E layers, pose challenges for radio communications. These layers can cause air traffic controllers and marine radio users to receive signals from distant regions, leading to confusion. Military radar operators may encounter false targets or garbled signals due to these layers constantly forming, moving, and dissipating.

Sporadic-E layers form in the ionosphere, a region of Earth's atmosphere between 40 to 600 miles above sea level. Understanding the ionosphere is crucial for maintaining smooth communication with satellites and ground systems, as it is heavily impacted by space weather driven by the Sun.

The ionosphere contains charged particles from meteors, including ionized iron, magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium, which can form dense clusters known as Sporadic-E layers. These layers are invisible to the naked eye and can only be detected by radars, presenting challenges for communication systems.

Scientists are particularly interested in studying Sporadic-E layers near the equator, where existing theories struggle to explain their formation. By launching rockets from the closest point to the magnetic equator, NASA aims to investigate this phenomenon further.

The SEED mission utilizes sounding rockets to study low-latitude Sporadic-E layers up close. These rockets, equipped with scientific instruments, are launched precisely to target developing Sporadic-E layers. The mission involves releasing vapor tracers and deploying detectors to collect data on particle density and magnetic field strength.

Through these launches and data collection, NASA aims to enhance computer models of the ionosphere and gain a better understanding of how Sporadic-E layers form near the equator, contributing to improved communication systems.