A TMA (tri-methyl aluminum) release rocket launched during the 1998 Coqui II sounding rocket campaign in Puerto Rico produced what appeared to be an artificially-generated aurora. This phenomenon has been observed on several other occasions, but has not yet been fully investigated. Charged particulates in the TMA trail may excite plasma or dusty plasma instabilities resulting in particle acceleration and auroral-like atmospheric emissions. We discuss several possible scenarios here, though determination of the appropriate particle acceleration mechanism will only be possible after more experimental and theoretical work. ©2000 American Institute of Physics.