Sights from STRAT: Third deployment

ER-2 Superpod

This was the first STRAT deployment to use the ER-2's "superpods" In previous ozone missions, the instruments on the wings were enclosed in smaller "spearpods." Many instruments had to be modified to fly on the new pods, and this deployment was our chance to see how the new configuration would work.

Preparing for Launch

ER-2 pilot in cockpit (full image is 74 kb.)

Here is a pilot sitting in the ER-2 cockpit going over his checklist before a flight.

Inside the C-141B

Inside C-141 (full image is 112 kb.)

We flew to Barber's Point Naval Air Station on Feb. 5. Because our usual C-141 was snowbound on the U.S. east coast, the Air Force flew us over in a newer model. But it had only the web seating along the sides. The flight was kind of late, so we were all pretty tired.

Watching the Launch

People watching ER-2 launch (full image is 101 kb.)

The scientists come out to watch their instruments being launched on the ER-2. This photo was taken just outside the hangar as the plane lifted off.

The DC-8

DC-8 (full image is 54 kb.)

This is the DC-8 flying laboratory used in TOTE/VOTE. The second deployment of the TOTE/VOTE experiment was being conducted at the same time as our third STRAT deployment. TOTE/VOTE, which had been up in Alaska and Iceland, flew down to Barbers Point to make some joint flights with STRAT.

Project Scientists

Mission scientists (full image is 79 kb.)

This is a photo of key personnel from the STRAT and VOTE/TOTE experiments meeting just after the DC-8 landed. The guy in the T-shirt on the left is Paul Newman (NASA GSFC), co-project scientist for STRAT. To his right, in the sunglasses, is Steve Wofsy (Harvard), the other co-project scientist. The guy in the blue shirt is Mark Schoeberl (NASA GSFC), co-project scientist for TOTE/VOTE. To his left, in the glasses, is Mike Kurylo, UARP Program Manager from NASA Headquarters.

DC-8 and ER-2

ER-2 and DC-8 (full image is 64 kb.)

The STRAT ER-2 and the TOTE/VOTE DC-8 are shown here together on the ramp at Barbers Point NAS.

Photos courtesy of Leslie Lait and Kathy Wolfe.