31 Aug 2010 Tri-Agency Mission Scientist Report - Rob Rogers
Mission synopsis: August 31, 2010
NOAA/IFEX
NOAA has no P-3 missions planned for today. The next P-3 mission will be a take-off at 08 UTC 1 September with N42RF. The aircraft will depart Barbados, fly a mission enroute in Hurricane Earl, and recover at Macdill AFB in Tampa. N43RF will takeoff from Barbados at 20 UTC 1 September, also fly a mission enroute in Hurricane Earl, and recover at Macdill. The G-IV is performing an NHC-tasked synoptic surveillance mission around Hurricane Earl. It will recover in Tampa. This cycle of P-3 missions at 08 UTC and 20 UTC will continue the following days for as long as Earl is a viable target. It will likely require the P-3′s to forward deploy as the hurricane moves up the U.S. east coast.
NASA/GRIP
NASA is planning missions into Hurricane Earl as well. The DC-8 will not be flying today. The next planned mission is September 1, with a takeoff of 14UTC for an 8-h mission. The following day the DC-8 will takeoff at 16UTC at the earliest, also for an 8-h mission. The Global Hawk is planned to have a mission with a takeoff at 04UTC September 2 for a ~24-h mission around and above Earl. The WB-57 is planned to have a mission on Wednesday, September with a takeoff at 20 UTC for a 6-h mission. The aircraft will have a follow-on mission planned for 20UTC the next day, also for a 6-h mission.
NSF/PREDICT
PREDICT is currently flying into Tropical Storm Fiona. The GV took off from Barbados and will recover there. There may be a follow-on mission planned for tomorrow, takeoff at 10UTC for a 5-6-h mission, recovering in St. Croix. Or there could be a simple ferry back to St. Croix. That decision will be made later today. A final mission is being considered for September 2, with a takeoff at 10UTC for an 8-h mission that will recover in St. Croix.
