0800 LT: Morning briefing. The decision to hold two test flights on Wednesday, 26 August, was confirmed. The scientific instruments and aircraft systems are generally operational, with the exception of the Satcom system, which had failed on the Sunday test flight and was n/op Monday. A telecom with the Satcom group is scheduled for 1000LT. The mission sequence and characteristics for tomorrow are to be decided at the 1400LT briefing.
1000 LT: Satcom telecon discussion. There is no clear idea about the source of the problem. Ingrid will come at 1300LT to test the system. HALO will be rolled out of the hangar for this purpose.
Weather conditions: Mostly overcast, with few sunny spells. Strong westerly winds.
1000 LT: Satcom telecon discussion. There is no clear idea about the source of the problem. Ingrid will come at 1300LT to test the system. HALO will be rolled out of the hangar for this purpose.
Weather conditions: Mostly overcast, with few sunny spells. Strong westerly winds.
1330 LT: Satcom is working. Problem may have been with initialization of system. Chat and file transfer were successful, live tracking works partially.
HALO in front of the hangar at DLR
1400 LT: Science team meeting. Weather forecast tomorrow is for mostly cloudy conditions tomorrow, with some clearing during the day. Light rain expected, decreasing in the afternoon/evening.
We are planning for two flights tomorrow. The first will emphasize aerosol and cloud microphysics measurements around and in the tops of growing clouds. The flight track will go to northern Germany and the cloud studies will take place in a specially designated area (TRA). The second flight will focus only on measurements in clouds and will follow a similar flight track.
We are planning for two flights tomorrow. The first will emphasize aerosol and cloud microphysics measurements around and in the tops of growing clouds. The flight track will go to northern Germany and the cloud studies will take place in a specially designated area (TRA). The second flight will focus only on measurements in clouds and will follow a similar flight track.
 |  Mecklenburg-Vorpommern TRA |
I'm staying at a the Hotel Seehof, a nice small hotel in Wessling, a little village just a few km from the DLR and the airport that HALO flies from. The hotel is on a very small lake surrounded by reeds and a few small boathouses. The hotel's beer garden is right on the lake - all very idyllic, but unfortunately the weather is too cool to enjoy sitting outside, and that in August, in the middle of summer.
RSS Feed