Tri-agency Mission Science Summary – September 2, 2010

NASA/GRIP:
The DC-8 took off from FLL today at 16 UTC to fly a ~8 hr mission into Hurricane Earl.  The Global Hawk has been flying Earl this morning and has been successfully overflying the storm.  Plans include a coordinated W-E leg between the DC-8 and GH to the center of Earl.  The WB-57 is scheduled to take-off at 2015 UTC to fly a ~6 hr mission (2 hr on-station) in Hurricane Earl.

Tomorrow (Fri 03 Sep): The GH will be landing at ~04 UTC at Dryden after completing its mission into Hurricane Earl.  This will be a no-fly day for the DC-8.  The WB-57 will ferry back to NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.

Sat (04 Sept): this will be a hard down day for all NASA aircraft.

NSF/PREDICT:
Today PREDICT is currently flying a mission (STX-STX) in PGI38 (ex-Gaston).

Tomorrow (Fri 03 Sep) the G-V is planning a follow-on mission in PGI38 (ex-Gaston).  A 9hr mission is planned, with a 12 UTC take-off (STX-STX).

Saturday (04 Sep): PREDICT PIs and mission coodinators are still discussing options for Saturday…whether the G-V will continue flying missions, have a no-fly day, or hard down day is TBD.

AIR FORCE:
The AF is currently tasked for fixes on:
Hurricane Earl:
02 Sept: 15/18/21 UTC
03 Sept: 00/06/12/18 UTC
04 Sept: 00/06/12/18

TS Fiona:
03 Sep : 18 UTC
04 Sep : 00 UTC

Refer to http://grip.nsstc.nasa.gov/reporting/ for a spreadsheet showing these plans.