how cool is this - tell more about the rocket please?
It is a replica of a sounding rocket, similar to those used for scientific study launched from Poker Flat Research Range north of Fairbanks. It stands mounted in front of International Arctic Research Center and the Geophysics Buildings at University of Alaska Fairbanks. From the wiki: "A sounding rocket, sometimes called a research rocket, is an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments during its sub-orbital flight." The word "sound" is here related to the word "probe". These are typically used to study the Aurora and the upper atmosphere.