Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 00:49:54 -0400 From: Kimberly Strong To: MANTRA email list Subject: MANTRA 2002 - Thursday, August 29 Status MANTRA 2002 - Thursday, August 29 Status Greetings from Vanscoy, Another early start today, again planning to be on station at 7 PM for launch at 2 AM Friday. Although we could have used more time to test some systems and modifications, particularly for the MSC FTS, we went ahead and assembled the payload. We had it ready by ~8:30 PM. However, we then went on hold, very closely watching the progress of a severe thunderstorm to the west (which was not forecast for today!). By 10:30 PM, which was as late as we could wait for the truck pickup of the gondola without missing our 2 AM launch window, one cell of the storm was heading our way and still too close for comfort. So we have decided to postpone the launch for tonight. We may try for sunrise, depending on winds, which don't look good for tomorrow. Ozonesondes - 12th launch this morning with large Raven balloon, reached 43 km Achievements today: - work on pointing system software, including automated scheduler - final solar checks of alignment of SPS-B1, MAESTRO-B, and MSC outdoors (difficult to get accurate azimuth alignment of MSC FTS with pointing system azimuth sensor) - installed neutral density filters on MAESTRO-B and set integration times - completed software and wiring for new MSC FTS sensor monitoring system - recovered good performance with both DU FTS channels by reducing speed of scan mirror - final payload assembly, installation of booms, solar shields, painting, etc. - partial RFI/telemetry test Media coverage today (from Heather Mackey at MSC Communications): We now have four national television stations (CTV, CBC, Global TV and the Weather Network) following the balloon story, and standing by for the launch. Broadcast News has also been doing daily updates (these are distributed to all major radio stations in Canada). All for now. Kim MANTRA Home Page: http://www.atmosp.physics.utoronto.ca/MANTRA/ MANTRA 2002: http://www.atmosp.physics.utoronto.ca/MANTRA/mantra_2002.html ---------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Kimberly Strong, Associate Professor Department of Physics, University of Toronto Room MP 710A, 60 St. George Street Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A7, Canada Telephone: (416) 946-3217, Fax: (416) 978-8905 Email: strong@atmosp.physics.utoronto.ca http://www.atmosp.physics.utoronto.ca/ http://www.atmosp.physics.utoronto.ca/people/strong/strong.html ----------------------------------------------------------------