Proteus Flight # 178
9 July, 2002

Objectives:  

Underflight of Terra satellite while achieving coincident observations from Proteus, ER-2, 
and WB-57 over western Caribbean near Yucatan peninsula.  Proteus overflight of Citation 
over Crystal-Face western ground site contributing to tropical cirrus cloud 
characterization. 

Summary: 

Proteus takeoff was at 14:28 GMT, underflight of Terra while having measurement coincidence 
with the other aircraft occurred at 16:34 GMT, and landing was at 22:27 GMT.  NAST-I 
performance was nominal and recorded data from 14:51 GMT to 21:59 GMT.  NAST-M recorded data 
between 14:14 GMT and 22:22 GMT; nominal performance was achieved throughout most of the 
flight, however, the 183 GHz channels did have anomalous performance during a portion of the 
flight.   The 425 GHz channels were not installed prior to this flight.  Note that the 
problem with the 183 GHz channels was fixed prior to the next flight.  FIRSC operated 
nominally throughout the on period from 14:30 to 22:22 GMT.  RSP was powered up at 14:35 GMT 
and was deactivated at 22:17 GMT, and achieved nominal instrument performance throughout 
this data taking period.   POLDER was powered up at 14:30 GMT and was turned off at 22:22 
GMT; data were recorded during 17:15 – 18:20 GMT; around one hour of data were recorded 
before this time period, but these are without GPS data until co-registration with other 
sensors can be achieved post-mission.