If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. That should be the motto for a NASA mission that has finally launched after no fewer than 11 scrubbed launch attempts.
A few minutes after liftoff, the rocket ejected 10 soda can-sized containers of barium, strontium, and cupric oxide (the same types of elements used in fireworks). The canisters burst into colorful clouds that, as they drift, help scientists study how ions move in the ionosphere—the part of our atmosphere that interacts with the charged particles streaming from the sun. These types of studies can help scientists understand auroras and predict the effects of space weather.
Wallops Flight Facility, where the rocket launched from, has received more than 2,000 photos and videos of the festive display. So worth the wait!