GIFTS EDU Validation UW-SSEC/CIMSS AERIbago Date: 19-22 Sept 2006 (Tuesday-Friday) Crew: DeSlover Author: DeSlover http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/gifts/edu/ Weather Conditions: Mission down days due to inclement or cloudy weather Instrument Analysis All instruments operating nominally. Science Discussion Below is the current remaining schedule per Taylor's email on Yesterday. I just spoke with Scott Jensen and this plan is currently uncertain given the current weather conditions. Status TBD. The current schedule estimate: Sat Sep 23 2006 --------------- Repeat VTE Rationale: The original VTE event included cooling the detectors to 55K, shutting down vibration sources (pumps, chiller, cryocooler), and making sky measurements as the detectors warmed to 60K in this vibration reduced environment. Upon review of the test, and previous observations of the detector characteristics at 55K, Scott Jensen would like to instead cool the detectors to 57K, and take vibration reduced measurements as the detectors warm from 57K - 62K, bracketing the GIFTS EDU normal detector operating temperature. Sun Sep 24 2006 --------------- Down day Mon Sep 25 2006 / Tues Sep 25 2006 ---------------------------------- 1. Repeat CCE Rationale: Bracket the ground based measurement test period with CCE tests. The comparison between AERI and GIFTS will provide details on the level of icing within GIFTS during the test period. 2. Break current external scene mirror configuration. Tues Sep 25 2006 / Wed Sep 26 2006 ---------------------------------- External scene mirror reflectance measurements. Rationale: Current plan is to use GIFTS to view an external blackbody with and without the scene mirror in the optical path. Allen Thurgood is leading this measurement. Thurs Sep 27 2006 ----------------- Configure for JTE (Move Bago short distance to allow mountain viewing by GIFTS). Bago data required for JTE (AERI-bago, ceilometer, surface weather station, sonde). Fri Sep 28 2006 --------------- JTE Sat Sep 29 2006 --------------- Pack up?