A satellite is being launched into space in Florida, thanks to a retired St. Cloud State physicist and former students.

A St. Cloud State spokesman says the Michelson Inferometer for Global High-Resolution Thermospheric Imaging (MIGHTI) instrument was designed and tested by emeritus professor John Harlander. He worked with several former SCSU students, including Maria Gaffney and Alex Griswold. 

The MIGHTI is one of four instruments on the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON), which attempted from Florida just after 2 a.m on Thursday. However, the launch was cancelled the day before due to rocket problems. The next available launch is Friday, November 8.

The ICON will study its namesake, the ionosphere, where space weather and planetary weather meet.

Harlander will be watching the launch from St. Cloud. He hopes to travel to the Mission Operations Center at the University of California-Berkeley to make sure the MIGHTI is powered and working. 

The launch comes after three previous cancellations: one in December 2017, one in June 2018, and another on Wednesday.