NASA to launch two missions to study flickering of polar auroras

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will launch two missions this week to understand polar auroras, commonly known as the Northern Lights. The first mission, Ground Imaging to Rocket Investigation of Auroral Fast Features (GIRAFF) focuses on pulsating and flickering auroras. The second mission will study dark spots or holes in auroras to determine what causes them to occur.