Proteus Flight # 186
26 July, 2002

Objectives:  

Today’s Proteus mission focused on underflight of the AQUA satellite ~ 1840 GMT, including 
overpasses of the C-F eastern ground site and offshore buoy region.  


Summary: 

Proteus takeoff was at 1325 EDT (1725 UT).  Buoys in the middle keys were passed over while
Proteus climbed to above FL300; the eastern C-F site was passed with Proteus ~ FL510, and 
the eastward track continued over a buoy to the east of MIA.  A line SSE-NNW, parallel to 
the AQUA sub-satellite track but offset to the east by 80 km to achieve clear air over a 
uniform water surface, was begun ~ 1430 EDT (1830 UT).  The AQUA overpass was at 1840 UT, 
and special sondes were released at 1800 UT from local NWS sites.  The line followed was 
from 25.99N/79.70W to 31.42N/81.09W (~ 620 km in length).     The reverse path was followed 
on the return down the line, over the buoy east of MIA and the eastern ground site, and then 
Proteus descended into Key West.  NAST-I performance was nominal and recorded data from 
17:39 GMT to 22:00 GMT.   NAST-M recorded data between 17:12 GMT and 22:28 GMT with nominal 
performance being achieved throughout the flight.  FIRSC operated nominally throughout their 
on period from 17:27 to 22:28 GMT.  RSP was powered up at 17:40 GMT and was deactivated at 
22:56 GMT, and achieved nominal instrument performance throughout this data taking period.  
POLDER did not record any data during this flight as attempts to initialize the instrument 
were unsuccessful.  Proteus landed at 22:50 GMT.