Daily Schedule

Plan of the Day for Wednesday, September 23, 2026

(All times are local to deployment, Eastern Standard Time — EST)

0800 - 1300 -- Aircraft access and power if needed.

0800 - Until it’s done -- packing ISUs for air shipment

Outlook:

• Thu, Sep 24 -- WB-57 Transit BLB-EFD Science Flight #15 (RF-19) / Air shipment leaves shortly after WB-57 takes off
• Fri, Sep 25 -- Sea shipment preparations (ESPO)

Notice on rental car returns:

When returning your rental car, please fill up the gas tank and then leave the keys (include a note with your name, license plate number, car description, email address where you want the receipt to be sent) at the ESPO desk in the hangar. If there are any damages to the vehicle, you must handle those directly with the car rental company. We also advise you to take pictures of the rental car as you leave it in the parking lot so that you can provide proof of lack of scratches and/or damage.

In the field contacts:

NOAA/Science:

Troy Thornberry / troy.thornberry@noaa.gov / +1 303 502-6489

ESPO: 

Jhony Zavaleta / jhony.r.zavaleta@nasa.gov / +1 650 965-5301

Sam Kim / samuel.s.kim@nasa.gov / +1 650 935-0840

Stevie Phothisane / s.s.phothisane@nasa.gov / +1 707 772-9683

WB-57:

Duane Cady / duane.j.cady@nasa.gov / +1 678 525-9658

Photos of the day:

Jhony gives an impromptu presentation about the project to some unexpected visitors

Some (hopefully) future scientists and aviators

Or maybe even astrosuit technicians!

Plan of the Day for Tuesday, September 22, 2026

(All times are local to deployment, Eastern Standard Time — EST)

0800 - 1300 -- Access and power for experimenters / packing

Outlook:

• Wed, Sep 23 -- Pack Up/ISU load up
• Thu, Sep 24 -- WB-57 Transit BLB-EFD Science Flight #15 (RF-19) / Air shipment leaves shortly after WB-57 takes off
• Fri, Sep 25 -- Sea shipment preparations (ESPO)

Notice on rental car returns:

When returning your rental car, please fill up the gas tank and then leave the keys (include a note with your name, license plate number, car description, email address where you want the receipt to be sent) at the ESPO desk in the hangar. If there are any damages to the vehicle, you must handle those directly with the car rental company. We also advise you to take pictures of the rental car as you leave it in the parking lot so that you can provide proof of lack of scratches and/or damage.

In the field contacts:

NOAA/Science:

Troy Thornberry / troy.thornberry@noaa.gov / +1 303 502-6489

ESPO: 

Jhony Zavaleta / jhony.r.zavaleta@nasa.gov / +1 650 965-5301

Sam Kim / samuel.s.kim@nasa.gov / +1 650 935-0840

WB-57:

Duane Cady / duane.j.cady@nasa.gov / +1 678 525-9658

Plan of the Day for Monday, September 21, 2026

(All times are local to deployment, Eastern Standard Time — EST)

Science Flight #14 (RF-18)

0700 -- WB57 crew show up and aircraft preflight 

0800 -- Instruments Upload 

0900 -- Instruments Hands Off (in hangar)

0915 -- Flight brief / Go/No-Go / Tow

1005 -- Fuel

1045 -- Aircrew Suit Up

1120 -- Aircrew/Cockpit Integration 

1200 -- Take off time

1800 -- Landing time (~6h sortie)

1830 -- Debrief

Outlook:

• Tue, Sep 22 -- Instrument Access / PackUp
• Wed, Sep 23 -- PackUp
• Thu, Sep 24 -- WB-57 Transit BLB-EFD Science Flight #15 (RF-19)

In the field contacts:

NOAA/Science:

Troy Thornberry / troy.thornberry@noaa.gov / +1 303 502-6489

Eric Ray / eric.ray@noaa.gov / +1 303 579-2958

ESPO: 

Jhony Zavaleta / jhony.r.zavaleta@nasa.gov / +1 650 965-5301

Sam Kim / samuel.s.kim@nasa.gov / +1 650 935-0840

WB-57:

Duane Cady / duane.j.cady@nasa.gov / +1 678 525-9658

Plan of the Day for Sunday, September 20, 2026

• Aircraft Hard Down Day, Instrument Lab Access

Outlook:

• Mon, Sep 21 -- Potential Science Flight #14 (RF-18) with a 1200 take-off
• Tue, Sep 22 -- Instrument Access / PackUp
• Wed, Sep 23 -- PackUp
• Thu, Sep 24 -- WB-57 Transit BLB-EFD Science Flight #15 (RF-19)

Photo of the Day:

Loading area for folks to prepare their cases when ready to pack

In the field contacts:

NOAA/Science:

Troy Thornberry / troy.thornberry@noaa.gov / +1 303 502-6489

ESPO: 

Jhony Zavaleta / jhony.r.zavaleta@nasa.gov / +1 650 965-5301

Sam Kim / samuel.s.kim@nasa.gov / +1 650 935-0840

WB-57:

Duane Cady / duane.j.cady@nasa.gov / +1 678 525-9658

Plan of the Day for September 19, 2026

(All times are local to deployment, Eastern Standard Time — EST)

Science Flight #13 (RF-17)

0430 -- WB57 crew show up and aircraft preflight 

0530 -- Instruments Upload 

0630 -- Instruments Hands Off (in hangar)

0645 -- Flight brief / Go/No-Go / Tow

0735 -- Fuel

0815 -- Aircrew Suit Up

0850 -- Aircrew/Cockpit Integration 

0930 -- Take off time

1530 -- Landing time (6h sortie)

1600 -- Debrief

Outlook:

• Sunday, Sep 20 -- Hard down day. Lab access.
• Monday, Sep 21 -- Potential Science Flight #14 (RF-18)
• Tuesday, Sep 22 -- Begin packing up

Photo of the Day:

One of the group photos from this morning; higher-res photos taken from atop the lift will be uploaded to the website later

In the field contacts:

NOAA/Science:

Troy Thornberry / troy.thornberry@noaa.gov / +1 303 502-6489

Eric Ray / eric.ray@noaa.gov / +1 303 579-2958

ESPO: 

Jhony Zavaleta / jhony.r.zavaleta@nasa.gov / +1 650 965-5301

Sam Kim / samuel.s.kim@nasa.gov / +1 650 935-0840

WB-57:

Duane Cady / duane.j.cady@nasa.gov / +1 678 525-9658

Reminder:

Please check your email for a message from Jhony regarding shipping preparations.

Plan of the Day for Friday, September 18, 2026

(All times are local to deployment, Eastern Standard Time — EST)

0700 - 0900 Maintenance; this will be the only timeframe where aircraft access and power will be provided for experimenters

0900 -- Group photo / Troy will be reaching out about helping with the display; volunteers are welcome

10:00 AM Ambassador SABRE Mission Walkthrough (~25 min). Press: Embassy Photographer and social media.

10:25 AM Press Pull-Aside with Ambassador and SABRE Team Member Duration: 5 minutes Speakers: Ambassador, [SABRE Team Member — Name/Title TBD]

Press: Open Press 10:30 AM Press tour with SABRE Team Member Duration: 15 minutes 

Outlook:

• Saturday, Sep 19 -- Potential Science Flight #13 (RF-17)
• Sunday, Sep 20 -- Hard down day. Lab access.
• Monday, Sep 21 -- Potential Science Flight #14 (RF-18)

In the field contacts:

NOAA/Science:

Troy Thornberry / troy.thornberry@noaa.gov / +1 303 502-6489

Eric Ray / eric.ray@noaa.gov / +1 303 579-2958

ESPO: 

Jhony Zavaleta / jhony.r.zavaleta@nasa.gov / +1 650 965-5301

Sam Kim / samuel.s.kim@nasa.gov / +1 650 935-0840

WB-57:

Duane Cady / duane.j.cady@nasa.gov / +1 678 525-9658

Photo of the day:

From today’s takeoff. PC: Jhony Zavaleta

Photo from the cockpit during today’s flight. PC: Tony Casey

Plan of the Day for Thursday, September 17, 2026

(All times are local to deployment, Eastern Standard Time — EST)

Science Flight #12 (RF-16)

0430 -- WB57 crew show up and aircraft preflight 

0530 -- Instruments Upload 

0630 -- Instruments Hands Off (in hangar)

0645 -- Flight brief / Go/No-Go / Tow

0735 -- Fuel

0815 -- Aircrew Suit Up

0850 -- Aircrew/Cockpit Integration 

0930 -- Take off time

1530 -- Landing time (~6h sortie)

1600 -- Debrief

Outlook:

• Friday, Sep 18 -- Aircraft Maintenance / Instrument Access
• Saturday, Sep 19 -- Potential Science Flight #13 (RF-17)
• Sunday, Sep 20 -- Aircraft hard down day. Lab Access.

In the field contacts:

NOAA/Science:

Troy Thornberry / troy.thornberry@noaa.gov / +1 303 502-6489

Eric Ray / eric.ray@noaa.gov / +1 303 579-2958

ESPO: 

Jhony Zavaleta / jhony.r.zavaleta@nasa.gov / +1 650 965-5301

Sam Kim / samuel.s.kim@nasa.gov / +1 650 935-0840

WB-57:

Duane Cady / duane.j.cady@nasa.gov / +1 678 525-9658

Photo of the day:

Chelsea Thompson leads a tour group of pilot students to watch the WB-57 landing

Plan of the Day for Wed, September 16, 2026

(All times are local to deployment, Eastern Standard Time — EST)

Science Flight #11 (RF-15)

0430 -- WB57 crew show up and aircraft preflight 

0530 -- Instruments Upload 

0630 -- Instruments Hands Off (in hangar)

0645 -- Flight brief / Go/No-Go / Tow

0735 -- Fuel

0815 -- Aircrew Suit Up

0850 -- Aircrew/Cockpit Integration 

0930 -- Take off time

1530 -- Landing time (~6h sortie)

1600 -- Debrief

Reminder: Wednesday we will have two groups, each composed of 10 student aviators, visiting us during upload and take off, as well as landing and post flight briefing.

Outlook:

• Thursday, Sep 17 -- Potential Science Flight #12 (RF-16)
• Friday, Sep 18 -- Aircraft Maintenance / Instrument Access / US Ambassador visit
• Saturday, Sep 16 -- Potential Science Flight #13 (RF-17)

Photo of the Day:

William Lorenzo explains the pressure to a visitor (MS Aerospace Engineering student)

In the field contacts:

NOAA/Science:

Troy Thornberry / troy.thornberry@noaa.gov / +1 303 502-6489

Eric Ray / eric.ray@noaa.gov / +1 303 579-2958

ESPO: 

Jhony Zavaleta / jhony.r.zavaleta@nasa.gov / +1 650 965-5301

Sam Kim / samuel.s.kim@nasa.gov / +1 650 935-0840

WB-57:

Duane Cady / duane.j.cady@nasa.gov / +1 678 525-9658

Reminders:

• If you have not already done so, please remember to make and/or adjust your lodging reservations at the Marriott Clearlake, TX. Marriott reservation link for Sep 24 – Sep 30, 2026

• Also, please stop by and pick up your mission badge upstairs in the ESPO room; if you’re having trouble getting past the gate before you’ve picked up your badge, please reach out to ESPO’s Jhony or Sam.

Plan of the Day for Tuesday, September 15, 2026

(All times are local to deployment, Eastern Standard Time — EST)

0700 - 0800 Maintenance

0800 - 1200 Access and power for experimenters

Outlook:

• Wednesday, Sep 16 - Potential Science Flight #11 (RF-15). Student pilots visit
• Thursday, Sep 17 - Potential Science Flight #12 (RF-16)
• Friday, Sep 18 - Aircraft Maintenance / Instrument Access. US Ambassador visit.

In the field contacts:

NOAA/Science:

Troy Thornberry / troy.thornberry@noaa.gov / +1 303 502-6489

Eric Ray / eric.ray@noaa.gov / +1 303 579-2958

ESPO: 

Jhony Zavaleta / jhony.r.zavaleta@nasa.gov / +1 650 965-5301

Sam Kim / samuel.s.kim@nasa.gov / +1 650 935-0840

Kelly Griffin / kelly.griffin@nasa.gov / +1 757-894-4985

WB-57:

Duane Cady / duane.j.cady@nasa.gov / +1 678 525-9658

Photos of the Day:

Photo credit: Ming Lyu

Post-flight debrief