Feature

James L. Neihouse, ASC Documents Frosty NASA Study

The cinematographer and NASA scientists photograph Black Brant IX sounding rockets being shot up into the upper atmosphere in -32°F weather

David E. Williams

James L. Neihouse, ASC is set to document NASA's study of the aurora borealis in Alaska

Shooting with NASA scientists at the Geophysical Institute Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska, James L. Neihouse, ASC and company toiled in -32°F weather with their Arri Alexa, Canon EOS C700 and Canon ME20F-SH cameras to photograph Black Brant IX sounding rockets being shot up into the upper atmosphere. The effort was part of a study of aurora borealis phenomena and its interaction with the solar wind.





The study involved was the Ionospheric Structuring: In Situ and Groundbased Low Altitude StudieS (ISINGLASS) mission. Neihouse's footage will be part of an upcoming project entitled Bifrost: Into The Aurora,a limited series documentary as well as a large-format film.


The final NASA sounding rocket of three on March 2 is launched into an aurora over Alaska. (Photo by NASA/Chris Perry)

In the more comfortable confines of an SUV, Neihouse captures 4K travel footage with a Canon EOS-1D X Mark II mounted to the hood. (Photo by James L. Neihouse, ASC.




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