A third NASA rocket was launched from Australian soil overnight, the last in a series out of the Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory.

The sounding rocket was part of a data-gathering mission to take measurements of ultraviolet light in an effort to narrow the search for habitable planets

The third and final sounding rocket for the Australia campaign launched today from @ela_space's Arnhem Space Centre. The DEUCE mission will take measurements of ultraviolet light to help narrow the search for habitable planets. https://t.co/0eBv7pJZe0 pic.twitter.com/SZlMllVPbv

— NASA Wallops (@NASAWallops) July 11, 2022

The rocket carried a measuring instrument to an altitude of 262 kilometres before descending by parachute and landing southwest of the launch site.

Astrophysicist Brad Tucker told Laurel, Gary and Mark the Northern Territory was chosen as the launch site because of its proximity to the equator.

“The equator is the fastest point the Earth is spinning, which actually means it’s the quickest way for the rocket to get out of town, so to speak.

“And you have lots and lots of land so that when you [can] go and recover the bits that land on land.”

Press PLAY below to hear whether last night’s launch was successful 

Image: Twitter / NASA Wallops