# Presentation: 087302

## Landing Site Weather Instrumentation Status

- Tim Garner
- Weather User’s Forum #4
- April 20, 2005

## Overview

- Istres, France
- Upper air measurement system
- “Handar” automated surface weather observing system
- Supplementary data request status
- Moron and Zaragoza, Spain
- “Handar”
- Supplementary data request status
- White Sands Space Harbor
- Upper air system
- Automated surface weather system
- Observer certification
- Forecast computer model and other items
- NASA Space Shuttle Landing Facility, Florida

## Istres Upper AirTASS

- Commercial version of AMPS used at Eastern Range
- Sippican W9000
- Same as other TAL sites
- TASS – TAL Atmospheric Sounding System
- Data from Istres balloon flight transmitted to MIDDS on April 5
- Data decoded and displayed in MIDDS correctly
- Telephone connection in NASA Istres facility TBD
- New purchase of balloons underway
- Upgraded to Windows compatible application rather than DOS
- Simulated Istres balloon data tested successfully on JSC MIDDS
- Balloon flight and data transmission to JSC planned as part of TAL site activation and certification
- NSTS-07700 Vol X Book 1, 3.4.3.1.4.e "Measurement of wind versus altitude profiles and transmission of data to JSC MIDDS."
- Successful flight on April 4, 2005
- Transmitted via phone and modem to JSC/MIDDS sucessfully on April 5, 2005
- Leased NASA facility and its communication infrastructure not ready for operations at time of test.

## Istres Upper AirFrequency Issues

- MeteoFrance and FAF have asked balloon observers to set downlink frequency to high end of the TASS (405-406 MHz)
- Nimes, France (32 nmi NW) rawinsonde operates on the same frequency band
- Normal operating range is 400-406 MHz
- NASA comms use 407 MHz for their LMR antenna
- They could be interference issues TBD
- TASS antenna scheduled for installation April 20 at NASA leased facility.

## Istres Handar (Vaisala 555)

- Handar installed along with other navaids in late March 2005
- Still checking the system out
- Most data has passed the eyeball check
- Data Uplink to METEOSAT began April 15, 2005
- Operational, data arriving at EUMETSAT for relay into Global Telecommunication System (GTS, aka “global weather circuit”)
- Data bulletin will be transmitted over usual weather circuits by EUMETSAT every 3 hours
- WMO bulletin header SXFR30 EUMS
- Currently troubleshooting routing issues with NWS HQ, UKMET office switching center, and EUMETSAT.
- Data should be available via dial-up or RF link to deployed DDMS observers in real-time for supplementing their METAR weather reports
- Dial-in access successfully tested from SMG (ZZA and MRN also available via dial-up)
- Operational plan for Handar usage same as other TAL sites.

## IstresOther Issues

- Communication infrastructure in the NASA leased facility will probably require the use of INMARSAT and cell phones for voice and data communication between the observers and SMG for Return-to-Flight.
- NASA weather equipment expected to be moved into the leased facility some this week.
- No movement on requesting additional data from MeteoFrance since last WUF.

## Spain

- Moron
- TASS (Sippican W9000) software upgraded
- Balloon flight on March 24 was transmitted to JSC MIDDS by CSR contractor and displayed successfully at SMG
- Handar operating normally
- Zaragoza
- TASS software upgraded
- 2 or 3 balloons successfully flown in March by CSR contractor
- Unable to transmit data to JSC due to modem driver problem
- Modem driver upgrade will be installed when DDMS weather observers are deployed to ZZA prior to return-to-flight
- Handar sensors not operating, probably a battery issue
- Estimated repair date is May 9
- Supplementary data status
- JSC/SMG now has access to additional forecast model data from the Spanish Meteorological service (INM).  We’re currently evaluating and learning what we have.
- Spanish radar server has been performing well since the problems encountered during the MMT Sim in March.
- Working with INM contact concerning Spanish airfield wind sensor data stream
- Conceivably this data could replace the Spanish Handar units

## White Sands Space Harbor Upper Air System Status

- Vaisala Digicora III purchased with SSP funds routed to WSMR
- On-site and ready-to-use
- System is dedicated for Space Shuttle program usage
- Some new scripting to put data into NASA format being tested.

## White Sands Space HarborAWOS III Installation Status

- AWOS IIIP hardware at WSSH.
- NASA/WSTF began site pre-installation work the week of April 11-15.
- Digging communication and power trenches
- Pouring concrete pads, etc.
- Sensors will be within 25 feet of WSMR Met Tower 4 (~500 ft from tower hub near the runway crossing points)
- Sensor installation work at prepared site TBD
- NWS technician tentatively scheduled to help with sensor assembly
- New automatic weather station will not be ready for RTF
- Will continue to use 3 existing NASA wind towers and 1 WSMR operated tower at WSSH for landings.
- WSMR Met Branch technicians will receive vendor training to provide routine and preventative maintenance to the AWOS IIIP.
- WSMR Met Tower 4 at WSSH scheduled to be removed sometime after AWOS IIIP operation has been established.

## White Sands Space HarborObserver Certification

- WSMR surface weather observers are no longer certified to record and transmit METAR reports
- MOD FRR Action 114-4:
- Provide a plan for resolving non-compliance of observer certification by April 27-28.
- Consulting with WSMR Met Branch and plan is in development
- PRD Item T3E states that landing weather METARS will be recorded “in accordance with FMH-1...” which requires certified observers.
- A “layered” or “buried” requirement.
- Space Shuttle program is only WSMR user requiring an aviation weather type observation
- This has resulted in reduced staffing for observer staffing and hours
- WSMR Met Branch personnel are capable and competent so this issue should not be road block for return-to-flight.

## White Sands Space HarborForecast Model Status

- NOAA/FSL delivered report on recommended hardware, operating system, and forecast model software in January, 2005
- MCC-CB “approved to implement” in early April
- Hardware purchase estimated in late May
- Model software installation and implementation TBD

## White Sands Space HarborOther Items

- SSP funds also provided for a trailer for WSMR Met branch personnel to use when deployed for balloon and surface observing support.

## NASA Space Shuttle Landing Facility

- Observers moved to the new Air Traffic Control building on March 3, 2005
- Now have a direct view of the runway
- Coastal Environmental installed an upgraded FMQ-19 system at the SLF.
- Wind and some other sensors slightly relocated

## Backup Slides

## AWOS IIIP Provides 24/7 Observations of:                                 

- Wind speed and direction
- Temperature
- Altimeter Setting
- Relative humidity and dew point temperature
- Rainfall totals

- Sky coverage
- Cloud base heights
- Visibility
- Precipitation type
- Obscuration to visibility type

- Previously unavailable at WSSH

## Current WSSH EOM Weather Information (1/2)

- Weather support at WSSH for EOM is contingent upon notification 24 hours prior to landing.
- PRD Items T9D (Upper Air Data) and T3E (Surface Observations)
- Surface observations
- Human observer deployed to Northrup Strip at TD-8:00
- METAR observation follows regular shuttle EOM schedule
- Station identifier is KE28
- Data is transmitted directly to MIDDS

## Current WSSH EOM Weather Information (2/2) 

- Balloons
- Current balloon system in use at WSMR is Vaisala Digicora III
- GPS-based wind finding
- Primary balloon release location is KE28 which is about 1⁄4 SE of WSSH runway X.
- TD-11hr:  meteorological analysis and forecast preparation.  By agreement with WSMR Met Branch this balloon may be released at a backup location (NW30, Tac 2, or south base) if time does not permit deployment to KE28.
- TD-6:30 Meteorological data is used with forecast winds for landing analysis
- TD-4:30 Last balloon used for TAEM analysis
- TD-2:30 Approach & landing analysis, NO GO for de-orbit burn
- TD-1:00 Approach & landing analysis, runway selection, aim points
- TD Post-landing analysis

## Post-Landing WSSH Ground Operations Weather Requirements

- PRD item K6E will require WSMR met office to provide
- Forecasts of temperature, wind speed & direction, pressure, thunderstorms, and lightning
- Upper air forecasts
- Permanent or portable surface weather instrumentation will be required at orbiter de-servicing area.
- Permanent weather station would increase ROM costs for Phase II.