Daily Schedule

Plan of the Day for September 1, 2026

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

September 1, 2026, Tuesday -- Science Flight #3

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

1500 -- Landing time (5.5h sortie)

1530 -- Debrief

September 2, 2026, Wednesday -- Instrument Access and Science Team Meeting

September 3, 2026, Thursday -- Potential Science Flight #4

Photo of the Day

Busy SABRE scientists on a non-flight lab access day

In the field contacts:

NOAA:

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

ESPO: 

Erin Czech erin.czech@nasa.gov / +1 650 499-6406

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

 WB-57:

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

James Goetze james.g.goetze@nasa.gov / +1 301 247-0070 

Plan of the Day for August 31, 2026
(All times are local to deployment, Eastern Standard Time — EST)

Updates:
ESPO: Judy Alfter is swapping out with Kelly Griffin. Welcome Kelly!
There is a water cooler outside the lab space for our use. Coffee is available in the ESPO office. PLEASE bring a water bottle or your own coffee cup.
Restrooms are located inside the pilot suit-up room, and there are two porta potties and a hand wash station outside the hangar door (near the lab).

August 31, 2026, Monday -- Instrument Access and Science Team Meeting
0700 – 0800 Aircraft maintenance
0800 – Aircraft access and power for experimenters
1100 – 1200 Science team meeting in science room at the hangar
1400 Aircraft Access and power ends for experimenters

September 1, 2026, Tuesday -- Potential Science Flight #3

September 2, 2026, Wednesday -- Instrument Access

Photo of the Day

Scientists and spectators enjoy the return of the WB-57 after the completion of science flight #2. (Photo: Judy Alfter)

In the field contacts:
NOAA:
Troy Thornberry troy.thornberry@noaa.gov / +1 303 502-6489

ESPO: 
Erin Czech erin.czech@nasa.gov / +1 650 499-6406
Kelly Griffin kelly.griffin@nasa.gov / +1 757-894-4985

WB-57:
Duane Cady duane.j.cady@nasa.gov / +1 678 525-9658
James Goetze james.g.goetze@nasa.gov / +1 301 247-0070

Plan of the Day for August 30, 2026
(All times are local to deployment, Eastern Standard Time — EST)

Updates:
Science Flight #2 has been successfully completed.
Dan Chirica is swapping out with Erin Czech. Thank you Dan for your tremendous support!
There is a water cooler outside the lab space for our use. Coffee is available in the ESPO office. PLEASE bring a water bottle or your own coffee cup.
Restrooms are located inside the pilot suit-up room, and there are two porta potties and a hand wash station outside the hangar door (near the lab).

August 30, 2026, Sunday -- Hard Down Day (crew)

August 31, 2026, Monday -- Instrument Access and Science Team Meeting

September 1, 2026, Tuesday -- Potential Science Flight #3
Details TBD

Photo of the day

John Lake, of the WB-57 team, performs maintenance on the aircraft. We are grateful to mechanics like John whose hard work makes our science missions successful. (Photo: Judy Alfter)

In the field contacts:
NOAA:
Troy Thornberry troy.thornberry@noaa.gov / +1 303 502-6489

ESPO: 
Judy Alfter judy.alfter@nasa.gov / +1 650 408-2440
Erin Czech erin.czech@nasa.gov / +1 650 499-6406

WB-57:
Duane Cady duane.j.cady@nasa.gov / +1 678 525-9658
James Goetze james.g.goetze@nasa.gov / +1 301 247-0070

Plan of the Day for August 29, 2026
(All times are local to deployment, Eastern Standard Time — EST)

Updates:

There is a water cooler outside the lab space for our use. Coffee is available in the ESPO office. PLEASE bring a water bottle or your own coffee cup.
Restrooms are located inside the pilot suit-up room. Also, there are two porta potties and a hand wash station outside the hangar door (near the lab) for our use.

August 29, 2026, Saturday -- Science Flight #2

0300 -- WB57 crew show up and aircraft preflight 
0400 -- Instruments Upload 
0500 -- Instruments Hands Off (in hangar)
0515 -- Flight brief / Go/No-Go / Tow
0605 -- Fuel
0645 -- Aircrew Suit Up
0720 -- Aircrew/Cockpit Integration 
0800 -- Take off time
1330 -- Landing time (5.5h sortie)
1400 -- Debrief

August 30, 2026, Sunday -- Hard Down Day (crew)

August 31, 2026, Monday -- Instrument Access and Science Team Meeting

WB-57 taxiing out for SABRE 2026 research flight #1

In the field contacts:
NOAA:
Troy Thornberry troy.thornberry@noaa.gov / +1 303 502-6489

ESPO: 
Dan Chirica dan.c@nasa.gov / +1 650 318-8257 
Judy Alfter judy.alfter@nasa.gov / +1 650 408-2440
Erin Czech erin.czech@nasa.gov / +1 650 499-6406

WB-57:
Duane Cady duane.j.cady@nasa.gov / +1 678 525-9658
James Goetze james.g.goetze@nasa.gov / +1 301 247-0070 
 

Plan of the Day for August 28, 2026
(All times are local to deployment, Atlantic Standard Time — AST)

Updates:
A successful Science Flight #1 is in the bag! It was a great day for SABRE science!

August 28, 2026, Friday -- Instrument Access
24/7 – Hangar and lab access for instrument teams
0700 – Maintenance show
1000 – (NLT) Aircraft access and power for experimenters
1400 Aircraft Access and power ends for experimenters

August 29, 2026, Saturday -- Potential Science Flight #2
Details TBD

August 30, 2026, Sunday -- Hard Down Day (Crew)

Photo of the day

NMASS and SP2 Science team members anxiously awaiting the download of their instrument after the transit flight on August 25th. (Photo: Judy Alfter)

In the field contacts:
NOAA:
Troy Thornberry troy.thornberry@noaa.gov / +1 303 502-6489

ESPO: 
Dan Chirica dan.c@nasa.gov / +1 650 318-8257 
Judy Alfter judy.alfter@nasa.gov / +1 650 408-2440

WB-57:
Duane Cady duane.j.cady@nasa.gov / +1 678 525-9658
James Goetze james.g.goetze@nasa.gov / +1 301 247-0070 
 

SABRE POD for Thursday 20 2026

All PODs will be posted/ updated in the Daily Schedule | SABRE folder on the ESPO mission website.

Please refer to the “Logistics” tab on the ESPO mission website and the Deployment Guide for additional logistics information.

All times are in CT.

KEY UPDATES

• Air shipment pack up complete
  • Truck will load at Hangar 990 early tomorrow morning

REMINDERS

• The ESPO Starlink has been taken down and packed
  • If you need internet in the hangar tomorrow or Friday, you may need to use a hotspot
• If you haven’t already, please make sure to leave your workspaces neat and tidy (dispose of any trash, empty bottles, bags, boxes, etc)
• Please remember to return your badge(s) to either James or Kelly on your last duty day and sign the Identity Termination form (if you haven’t already)
• Closed-toe shoes required on ramp/hangar, shorts are acceptable
  • N/A

MEETINGS & BRIEFINGS

• N/A

FLIGHT OPERATIONS

• N/A

GROUND OPERATIONS

• Hangar and lab access for experimenters
• Aircraft access 0800-1200
  • Hands off NLT 1300
• Anyone that hasn’t started pre-flight checks by 1200 will be bumped to Friday morning

MISSION PHOTOS

Photo(s) of The Day:   Consummate ESPO professional Bri Milano literally going above and beyond in support of SABRE Tropics pack up

• Photos will also be added to the gallery on the SABRE website

For questions, please contact:

Jhony Zavaleta (ESPO): 650-965-5301 or via Signal chat(s)

Bri Milano (ESPO): 650-316-9940 or via Signal chat(s)

Kelly Griffin (ESPO): 757-894-4985 or via Signal chat(s)

James Goetze (JSC Aircraft Operations Division): 301-247-0070 or via Signal chat(s)  

SABRE POD for Tuesday 18 August 2026

All PODs will be posted/ updated in the Daily Schedule | SABRE folder on the ESPO mission website.

Please refer to the “Logistics” tab on the ESPO mission website and the Deployment Guide for additional logistics information.

All times are in CT.

KEY UPDATES

• Final ICF completed today
  • No gripes on the jet, left wing communications still being worked

REMINDERS

• Air shipment is rapidly approaching- as soon as your equipment is ready to be loaded into the ISUs, please place it in the green tape area
  • YOU WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THIS EQUIPMENT UNTIL YOU REACH PANAMA
• When your hazmat is ready to be packed, please see Bri
• Please remember to return your badge(s) to either James or Kelly on your last duty day and sign the Identity Termination form (if you haven’t already)
• Closed-toe shoes required on ramp/hangar, shorts are acceptable

MEETINGS & BRIEFINGS

• 1300: Pre-Deployment Threat Assessment Brief in Building 994
  • Teams link available if participants cannot attend in person (https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/265554407350723?p=uLe8dKoZvkfqSDq6rY)

FLIGHT OPERATIONS

• N/A

GROUND OPERATIONS

•  Hangar and lab access for experimenters
• Aircraft access available by request 0800-1430
  • Available by request for troubleshooting, however continuous power will not be possible
  • Coordinate with Victoria

MISSION PHOTOS

Photo(s) of The Day:   Successful Completion of Final ICF Before Panama Deployment

• Photos will also be added to the gallery on the SABRE website

For questions, please contact:

Jhony Zavaleta (ESPO): 650-965-5301 or via Signal chat(s)

Bri Milano (ESPO): 650-316-9940 or via Signal chat(s)

Kelly Griffin (ESPO): 757-894-4985 or via Signal chat(s)

James Goetze (JSC Aircraft Operations Division): 301-247-0070 or via Signal chat(s)  

SABRE POD for Monday 17 August 2026

All PODs will be posted/ updated in the Daily Schedule | SABRE folder on the ESPO mission website.

Please refer to the “Logistics” tab on the ESPO mission website and the Deployment Guide for additional logistics information.

All times are in CT.

REMINDERS

• If you have equipment that is ready to be loaded into ISU-90s, please place them in the Green tape area AFTER THE PLANE IS TOWED OUT. You will not have access to this equipment until you reach Panama. 
  • If you have hazmat ready to be packed please see Bri 
• Please remember to return your badge(s) to either James or I on your last duty day and sign the Identity Termination form if you haven’t already
• Closed-toe shoes required on ramp/hangar, shorts are acceptable
• Bring badge(s), water bottle
  • Remember to utilize the ice machine and the water station as much as you need to stay cool(er) and stay hydrated!
• Hangar Wi-Fi is ESPO SARP 1 and the password is Houston123
• If you need a cool/quiet/non-drafty space to work (or just cool down), the conference table with chairs in room 109 (just off the hangar floor) is usually available, as well as the tables in 994
  • There are also several cubicles with desks at the north end of the upstairs hallway, but internet is likely limited unless you bring your own hotspot 

MEETINGS & BRIEFINGS

• 0730 Flight Plan Review (Science Leads and Aircrew)
• 0745 Mission Brief - Go/No-Go (Bldg. 994)
• 1500 (approx.) Debrief (Bldg. 994)/Payload de-integrate

FLIGHT OPERATIONS

• 0530 Mx show
• 0630 Payload integration (please be ready to roll by 0620, PALMS can start 0615)
• 0730 Payload access ends
• 0730 Flight Plan Review (Science Leads and Aircrew)
• 0745 Mission Brief - Go/No-Go (Bldg. 994)
• 0730 Tow / Refuel (20,000 lbs)
• 0845 Aircrew Aircraft Preflight
• 0900 Aircrew Suit Up
• 0945 Aircrew Cockpit Integration
• 1005 Engine Start
• 1025 Taxi
• 1030 Take Off
• 1400-1430 Land
• Landing+30 mins Debrief (Bldg. 994)/Payload de-integrate
• 1530 Day complete

MISSION PHOTOS

Photo(s) of The Day:   AMP getting some maintenance before the final check flight tomorrow. 

For questions, please contact:

Jhony Zavaleta (ESPO): 650-965-5301 or via Signal chat(s)

Bri Milano (ESPO): 650-316-9940 or via Signal chat(s)

Kelly Griffin (ESPO): 757-894-4985 or via Signal chat(s)

James Goetze (JSC Aircraft Operations Division): 301-247-0070 or via Signal chat(s)