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SPRITE Flight by Mark L. Adrian 07 December 2001 Red sprites are transient luminous events that appear in clear air over a thunderstorm immediately following an intense cloud-to-ground lightning discharge. These luminous phenomena are morphologically complex and show considerable temporal and spatial variability. Recent theoretical studies suggest that the ionization region of red sprites provides favorable conditions for the establishment of a highly conductive link between the lower ionosphere and Earth's surface. An overview of red sprite observational data and theoretical results to date from the atmospheric and space physics communities at-large will be presented. This overview forms the backdrop for a discussion of current efforts by members of the Space Plasma Physics Group of the NSSTC to launch a "back-of-the-garage"engineered science package above an active thunderstorm in Spring 2001 using a surplus weather balloon. The staff writers of science.nasa.govhave christened this balloon-mission "SRRITE Flight."
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