sounding rockets

Sounding rockets are specialized vehicles designed to carry scientific instruments into the upper atmosphere and near space for short-term research. They are smaller and less complex than space shuttles or satellites, typically reaching altitudes of 100 to 1,500 kilometers. They launch vertically, quickly ascend through Earth's atmosphere, collect data on phenomena like atmospheric composition, cosmic rays, and auroras, then descend back to Earth. Used mainly for scientific experiments, sounding rockets provide valuable insights into space and atmospheric science at a lower cost and shorter turnaround time than orbital missions.