Data: ARCTAS 2008 Flight #2009

2008-06-19 (Flight #2009)

Aircraft Flight Summary

Date: 2008-06-19
Flight Time: 13:47-21:26 UTC
Data Time: 14:03 - 21:25 UTC
Aircraft Type: NASA P-3B
Flight Scientist: Charles Gatebe
Flight Number: 2009
Mission Location: Transit flight from Wallops, Virginia to NASA Ames, California
Lat/Lon Coverage:

Flight Track Map

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Satellite Image from

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Satellite Images from GOES-12

GOES-12 satellite loop for flight number 2009

1332 - 2132 UTC

CAR - (QuickLook)
Imagery from CAR Instrument

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Flight Direction	Flight Direction

Flight Mission Details

This was a transit flight out of Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia to NASA Ames in California for the CARB Mission and ARCTAS Summer campaign. Preflight goals included testing active roll correction for the CAR instrument over a long duration - endurance test and test the CANS (CAR Autonomous Navigational System).

P-3B instrument payload:

CAR - Cloud Absorption Radiometer measured angular distribution of scattered radiation and acquired imagery of ocean surface en route to Ocean City.

REVEAL - The Research Environment for Vehicle-Embedded Analysis on Linux (REVEAL) system is a prototype next-generation tool for aerospace vehicle sensor webs and the future Earth Observation System.

CREW:
Pilot: Michael Singer and George Postell.
Flight Engineer: John Doyle
Mission manager: David Easmunt and Colleen Kelly

Others: Charles Gatebe, Duncan Kahle, Rajesh Poudyal, Eric Wilcox, Matt He, Bill and Peter.

Flight Path, Timing, and Measurements

Activities during CAR flight 2009 on June 19, 2008 out of Wallops Flight Facility (Virginia) to NASA Ames, California. Observations by CAR operator/PI/Flight Scientist, Charles Gatebe.

13:47 -- engines on.
13:51 -- taxing.
13:57 -- take off.
14:00 -- CAR cryocooler power on.
14:05 -- CAR power on.
14:06 -- active roll correction on.
14:18 -- CAR heaters turned on.
14:31 -- roll correction active.
14:33 -- CANS working well.
14:36 -- pictures: Cloud and landscapes scenes
14:52 -- over clouds
14:55 -- Nav temp +-6 deg C.
15:04 -- pictures - city and river
15:24 -- CAR scanning in the starboard from zenith to nadir. Count is 8070.
15:30 -- setup internet connection.
15:38 -- pic taken of an airfield.
15:47 -- Eric Wilcox on the co-driver's seat.
16:04 -- CAR scanning the surface from horizon to horizon perpendicular to the flight track.
16:09 -- Eric Wilcox in the driver's seat. Will baby seat the instrument for 2 hours.
17:42 -- flying through very thick and bumpy clouds.
17:45 -- active roll seemed to do well in the bumpy clouds.
18:00 -- Rajesh Poudyal in the driver's seat. Will baby seat the instrument for 2 hours.
18:41 -- Pics of CB clouds probably over Colorado (Denver).
19:51 -- salt pans in Nevada. Rajesh took some pictures.
20:19 -- Gatebe now in the driver's seat.
20:24 -- Big fire plumes -- in Nevada.
20:42 -- pics of a lake in California close to Nevada border.
20:50 -- smoke plumes in California
21:01 -- aircraft turns - bank angle ~20 deg. Active roll works well. Alt. is 6210 m msl.
21:15 -- pics of a city in California.
21:25 -- close CAR door.
21:26 -- landed at NASA Ames.
21:27 -- CANS stopped.
21:28 -- power supply off.

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