Operational Logistics


5.1 Accommodations at Wallops Flight Facility

The main operations area for the TARFOX aircraft will be the Aeronautical Research Projects Hangar (Bldg. N159) at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The ground-based instruments will be assigned space in several different locations on Wallops Island. Figure 4* shows the location of WFF Main Base, Mainland, and Wallops Island. Figures 5 * is a map of the Wallops Flight Facility showing the location of Bldg. N-159, the Aeronautical Research Projects Hangar.

*Figures 4 and 5 are reprinted from the Wallops Flight Facility Range Users Handbook.

 
5.1.1 Aircraft Accommodations, Offices, and Labs
The ER-2 and the Pelican aircraft will be parked inside the Bldg N-159 hangar; the UK C-130 and the UW C-131 will be parked outside the hangar doors on the south side of the building Laboratory and office space for the TARFOX aircraft groups will be located in existing rooms in on the West side of Bldg. N159, and in trailers located just outside the hangar. The Figure 6 shows the layout of the TARFOX aircraft operations area at Wallops.

One of the labs downstairs on the West side of the N-159 hangar has been allocated for TARFOX. This lab will be shared by the aircraft groups needing lab space, and at least one of the ground-based groups.

A trailer is being leased and set up specifically for TARFOX near the northeast corner of the N-159 hangar; it will house the project office, and be used as an operations center during flights. WFF HF radio transmitters/receivers will be available for use by the TARFOX project, via an intercom in the operations center trailer. At least two dedicated frequencies will be assigned for ground-to-air communication with the TARFOX aircraft, one to be used as the primary communications frequency, and one for backup. ER-2 LASE real-time data will be received in second trailer outside the hangar. The location of the trailers outside the hangar will facilitate communication and sharing of LASE realtime data during TARFOX missions.

Seven offices and a small conference room upstairs in N-159 have been assigned to TARFOX. Figure 7 shows the office area in Bldg N-159, second floor (Southwest corner of the hangar), with room assignments for TARFOX. The conference room will be used as the pilots' office briefing area.

 
 
5.1.2 Accommodations for Surface-based Instruments
There will be six ground-based instrument packages located on Wallops Island during the TARFOX Intensive Field Period. In addition, there will be GSFC Sun-Sky Photometers aboard two cruise ships traveling between New York and Bermuda during TARFOX. Figure 8 shows the location of the ground sites on Wallops Island.
 
 
5.1.3 Communications
Figure 9 shows the expected mission communications for TARFOX. The ground-based communications hub will be the TARFOX Operations trailer, located outside Bldg. N159. The in-air communications hub will be the UK C-130. Air-to-ground communication for mission coordination will be primarily between the TARFOX Operations trailer and the C-130 aircraft. Two means of communication will be used: HF radio, and email/FAX using a computer and modem link brought to WFF by the C-130 crew.
Call signs for TARFOX are as follows:
TARFOX Trailer: "TARFOX 1"
ER-2: "NASA708"
UK C-130: "METMAN 59" or "METMAN 60"
UW C-131A: "Husky One"
CIRPAS Pelican: "Pelican"
ER-2 mobile pilot: "ER-2 ops"

 


Two HF frequencies have been reserved for communication between the TARFOX trailer and the C-130:

Primary 6982.5 KHz
Backup 3383.5 KHz


Realtime data from the ER-2 LASE will be transmitted to the LASE trailer. Based on LASE data and other information real-time information, updates on the location of target areas and main haze layer altitudes will be communicated to the aircraft in flight, for possible modification of flight plans. Other ground-based mission communication will be over standard phone and fax lines, and Internet.

Also located in the TARFOX Operations trailer will be receiver for AVHRR data from the NOAA-14 satellite. The antenna for the receiver will be set up on the rooftop of the Bldg N159 hangar or other suitable site with good line-of-sight visibility; the AVHRR data system will be in the TARFOX Operations trailer.

 
 
5.1.4 Computer Support at Wallops Flight Facility
The labs at Wallops that are reserved for TARFOX are already set up with connections to the network. Wallops will provide cables as needed to connect TARFOX computers to the network in the lab areas.

The following hardware and software will be needed to connect to the network:

 
IP addresses and domain names at Wallops:
Net mask: 255.255.0.0
Broadcast: 128.154.255.255
Router: 128.154.1.254
Domain name server: 128.154.44.10
Domain name: WFF.NASA.GOV

Individual IP addresses will be assigned approximately one month prior to the field program. Those who wish to have their computer accessible via a nameserver will have to provide a name for their computer.

 

Points of contact for computer support:
The main point of contact for computer support at Wallops will be Carl Johnson @ x2444. Additional support is available from the following people
 
FOR... CALL... @ PHONE:
IP address assignment Carl Johnson
Maurice Jester
(804) 824-2444
(804) 824-1456
Troubleshooting Jim Brady (804) 824-2112
Wiring and cable concerns Al Wimbrow (804) 824-1358
 
 
5.1.5 TARFOX Network Layout and IP address assignments
Figure 10 shows the Ethernet connevtion that will be in place for TARFOX. The following table lists the IP addresses for the connections in Figure 10.
 
Table 1. TARFOX Network - IP address assignments
# (see
Fig 10)
Location:
(Bldg/Rm)
Assigned to: Point of Contact: IP Address:
1 N159/234 HP color printer Whiting 128.154.200.1
2 N159/234 Pilots Whiting 128.154.200.2
3 N159/232 Ames
Sunphotometer
Hanratty/Livingston/
P.Russell
128.154.200.3
4 N159/232 Ames
Sunphotometer
Hanratty/Livingston/
P.Russell
128.154.200.4
5 N159/230&231 CIRPAS/Cal Tech Durkee/L.Russell 128.154.200.5
6 N159/230&231 CIRPAS/Cal Tech Durkee/L.Russell 128.154.200.6
7 N159/230&231 CIRPAS/Cal Tech Durkee/L.Russell 128.154.200.7
8 N159/230&231 CIRPAS/Cal Tech Durkee/L.Russell 128.154.200.8
9 N159/244 UK C-130 Hignett/Tayor 128.154.200.9
10 N159/244 UK C-130 Hignett/Tayor 128.154.200.10
11 N159/243 UW C-131 Hobbs 128.154.200.11
12 N159/239 (lab) CIRPAS/Cal Tech Durkee/L.Russell 128.154.200.12
13 N159/239 (lab) CIRPAS/Cal Tech Durkee/L.Russell 128.154.200.13
14 N159/239 (lab) UW C-131 Hobbs 128.154.200.14
15 N159/239 (lab) GSFC Sun-Sky Photo. Remer/Holben 128.154.200.15
16 N159/239 (lab) UK C-130 Hignett/Tayor 128.154.200.16
17 N159/239 (lab) Ames
Sunphotometer
Hanratty/Livingston 128.154.200.17
18 N159/239 (lab) Laser Writer 300 Whiting/P.Russell 128.154.200.18
19 Trailer - Project Office WW Powerbook Whiting 128.154.200.19
20 Trailer - Project Office PR Powerbook P.Russell 128.154.200.20
21 Trailer - Conf. Rm. Laser Writer Select Whiting/P.Russell 128.154.200.21
22 Trailer - Conf. Rm. spare Whiting 128.154.200.22
23 Trailer - Comm. Rm. AVHRR Durkee 128.154.200.23
24 Trailer - Comm. Rm. spare Whiting 128.154.200.24
25 Trailer (U70, Island) HP color printer Whiting 128.154.200.25
26 Trailer (U70, Island) GSFC Raman Lidar Ferrare 128.154.200.26
27 Trailer (U70, Island) GSFC Raman Lidar Ferrare 128.154.200.27
28 Trailer (U70, Island) GSFC Raman Lidar Ferrare 128.154.200.28
29 Trailer (U70, Island) GSFC Raman Lidar Ferrare 128.154.200.29
30 Trailer (U70, Island) GSFC Raman Lidar Ferrare 128.154.200.30
31 Trailer (U70, Island) GSFC Raman Lidar Ferrare 128.154.200.31
32 X-15 (Island) GSFC Raman Lidar Ferrare 128.154.200.32
33 X-15 (Island) JPL MISR Conel/Helmlinger 128.154.200.33
34 X-15 (Island) JHU Spectrorad. Swartz 128.154.200.34
35 X-15 (Island) GSFC Particle Sizer Ji/Remer 128.154.200.35
36 N159/243 MAS Science Team Kaufman/Tsay 128.154.200.36

 
5.1.6 TARFOX Intensive Field Period Telephone Directory

LOCATION PHONE #
(voice)
PHONE #
(fax/modem)
Wallops Flight Facility Operator
N-159 Hangar Bay (east side)
N-159 Hangar Bay (west side)
Crash, Fire, and Rescue
Cafeteria Menu (recording)
Security (main gate)
804-824-1000
804-824-1440
804-824-5081
804-824-1507
804-824-2424
804-824-2222
TARFOX shared FAX:
(first floor N159 hangar)
804-824-2361

TARFOX trailer:

Project Office
Russell, Whiting, Harper

Conference room

Communications room
Durkee




804-824-1710*


804-824-1740

804-824-1712




fax:
804-824-1701

fax:
804-824-1709

C-130 modem:
804-824-1741

NASA ER-2 LASE offices:

Bldg. N159/Rm 239
Bldg. N159/Rm 240


804-824-____
804-824-1341*
UK C-130:
Bldg. N159/Rm. 244
Hignett, Taylor


804-824-2493*

fax/modem:
804-824-____
UW C-131A
Bldg. N159/Rm. 243
Hobbs

ER-2 MAS Science Team:
Bldg. N159/Rm. 243
Kaufman/Tsay


804-824-____



804-824-____

fax/modem:
804-824-____


fax/modem:
804-824-____

CIRPAS/Cal Tech offices:

Bldg. N159/Rm 231
Durkee, Finn, L. Russell

Bldg. N159/Rm 230
Durkee, Finn, L. Russell




804-824-____


804-824-____


fax/modem:
804-824-____

fax/modem:
804-824-____
C-131A/Pelican
Ames Sunphotometer office:


Bldg. N159/Rm 232
Livingston, Hanratty, Wegener


804-824-____

fax/modem:
804-824-____
TARFOX Pilot's Briefing Room:
Bldg. N159/Rm. 234

804-824-2486
fax/modem:
804-824-____
TARFOX Lab (Bldg. N159/Rm 139)

Line 1
Line 2
Line 3
Line 4


804-824-____
804-824-____
804-824-____
804-824-____


fax/modem:
804-824-____
LASE trailer:
(located outside Bldg. N159 - near NE corner)
804-824-2474
804-824-2401
GSFC Sun/Sky Photometer:
Bldg. X-15/Rm 202 (Wallopos Island)
Remer, Holben

804-824-2810
804-824-2811 *
GSFC Raman Lidar:
Bldg. U70 (Wallops Island)
Ferrare

804-824-2814 *
804-824-2815
JPL/ MISR Instruments:
Bldg. X-15/Rm 203 (Wallopos Island)
Conel, Helmlinger

804-824-2816 *
S. Dakota School of Mines:
Bldg. X-15/Rm 205 (Wallopos Island)
Welch, Feind

804-824-2855 *
JHU Spectoradiometer group:
Bldg. X-15/Rm 204 (Wallopos Island)
Swartz

804-824-2821 *
GSFC Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer:
Bldg. X-15/Rm 206 (Wallopos Island)
Ji

804-824-2866 *

* = phone mail available

PLEASE NOTE that the Phone Directory above includes all the phone numbers that were available as of this writing. Those that are expected to be available for TARFOX, but have not been assigned numbers yet are included in the table above as "804-824-____". An updated phone directory will be available at Wallops at the start of the Intensive Field Period.

 


5.2 Instrument calibrations

Because TARFOX is a closure experiment, analyses will emphasize intercomparisons of different measurements and calculations of the same properties. The emphasis on intercomparisons heightens the importance of instrument calibrations. Wherever possible calibrations should be current, traceable to standards, and/or checked in the field. To the extent permitted by funding and time constraints, instrument intercomparisons will be conducted before, during, and/or after the TARFOX Intensive Field Program, as a means of testing for offsets, biases, unmatched calibrations, or instrument malfunctions. A pre-TARFOX photometer/radiometer calibration is planned at Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, May 20-30, 1996. TARFOX participants are encouraged to participate in the pre-ACE-2 photometer/radiometer intercalibration planned for Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, October, 1996.


5.3 Data Management

The TARFOX data protocol and publication plan has been prepared to encourage an orderly and timely analysis, interpretation, and publication of the data obtained during TARFOX. It is hoped that the development and distribution of this plan will enhance the science output by promoting cooperation among the investigators and encouraging the early publication of results, thereby enriching the scientific interpretation of the data obtained from single instruments and ensembles.

The TARFOX Science Team (TST) is responsible for the certification of data submitted to the permanent TARFOX data archive located at the Langley Research Center (LaRC) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC). The certification process will normally take 6-24 months after acquisition. During the certification process period, the following Guidelines for Sharing Data and Data Publication Ground Rules will be agreed upon and abided to by all TST members as a condition of their participation in the TARFOX project.

 
5.3.1 Guidelines for Sharing Data
 
 
5.3.2 Data Publication Ground Rules
Early publication of results from TARFOX research is strongly encouraged. Towards this goal, the following minimum publication plan has been developed:


5.4
Timeline


5.5
Intensive Field Period Calendar


5.6 TARFOX Daily Schedule

The schedule below shows expected flight day activities for TARFOX. The actual timing of events on flight days will be determined based on weather and atmospheric conditions, and satellite overpass times. For example, the takeoff times on any given day will be derived partly from the location of aerosol "plumes", which will determine the amount of time needed in transit to the target area by the four aircraft.

TIME [UT]* FLIGHT ACTIVITIES OTHER ACTIVITIES
EARLY
-----
(ERS-2
passes)
LATE
-----
(NOAA-14
passes)
Note: Times given are approximate, for two possible cases, based on known early and late satellite overpass times . Actual takeoff times will be adjusted each day, based on conditions.
1000 1000 WFF Weather briefing (every flight day)
1000 1200 Begin preflights Note: C130 preflight starts before ER-2's on LATE days.
1000 1200 Begin calculating final flight plans. Final go/no-go and flight scenario decision
1140-
1230
1140-
1230
NOAA-12 overpass data available
~1330 ~1630 ER-2 takeoff
~1400 ~1400 C-130 takeoff
~1400 ~1700 C-131 takeoff
~1330 ~1430 Pelican takeoff
From
~1400 to
landings
From
~1700 to
landings
All aircraft in flight. Plan for next day
- review science data
-revise flight scenarios if necessary
~1600 ~1900 Critical point in flight scenarios (as satellite overpass occurs) Satellite overpass
1900 1900 24 hr/ 48 hr forecasts received
1930 1930 Go/no-go checkpoint for next day
~1900 ~2200 ER-2 lands
~2200 ~2200 C-130 lands
~1800 ~2100 C-131 lands
~2030 ~2130 Pelican lands
~2230 ~2230 Post-flight meeting (approximately 1/2 hr after last landing)

*Wallops Local Daylight Time (LDT) = UT -4 hours

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