Uploaded December 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Sterling Colgate was a physicist with the Los Alamos National Laboratory. In the spring of 1981, Colgate attempted to launch instrumented rocket packets into the various stages of tornadoes to attempt to measure heat from electrical discharges that, in theory, aided in strengthening vortex intensity. One such instance and perhaps the most noteworthy transpired on May 22, 1981 near Alfalfa, Oklahoma. Very independent by nature, Colgate piloted the aircraft, operated [by remote] a sound Super 8mm film camera and launched the rockets himself. Due to severe turbulence around the mesocyclone, none of the rockets penetrated the vortex. Colgate made an emergency landing on a nearby road shortly after the film was taken, but was fortunately not injured. All attempts by Colgate to launch rockets by aircraft were discontinued after this event.
This segment on Sterling Colgate is from the 1992 production of 'Tornado Video Classics Vol. 1' by Environmental Films and illustrates the great difficulty of this attempted project.
For a ground view of the rocket launch by air, go to the :30 mark of this 16mm film by Dr. Erik Rasmussen, taken near Alfalfa, Oklahoma: youtu.be/FmEDpidG11k
Original films provided by Sterling Colgate to The Tornado Project, © 1992.
Sterling Colgate was a physicist with the Los Alamos National Laboratory. In the spring of 1981, Colgate attempted to launch instrumented rocket packets into the various stages of tornadoes to attempt to measure heat from electrical discharges that, in theory, aided in strengthening vortex intensity. One such instance and perhaps the most noteworthy transpired on May 22, 1981 near Alfalfa, Oklahoma. Very independent by nature, Colgate piloted the aircraft, operated [by remote] a sound Super 8mm film camera and launched the rockets himself. Due to severe turbulence around the mesocyclone, none of the rockets penetrated the vortex. Colgate made an emergency landing on a nearby road shortly after the film was taken, but was fortunately not injured. All attempts by Colgate to launch rockets by aircraft were discontinued after this event.
This segment on Sterling Colgate is from the 1992 production of 'Tornado Video Classics Vol. 1' by Environmental Films and illustrates the great difficulty of this attempted project.
For a ground view of the rocket launch by air, go to the :30 mark of this 16mm film by Dr. Erik Rasmussen, taken near Alfalfa, Oklahoma: youtu.be/FmEDpidG11k
Original films provided by Sterling Colgate to The Tornado Project, © 1992.
