Return of GSE Items from Cream 2

Hi,

Monday Young Soo and I went to WFF and brought back the Cream 2 "GSE" which was shipped back from McMurdo by ship and delivered by truck to WFF last Friday.
All the items were in one sea container, which appeared to be intact. Everything seemed to be physically ok when we opened the container - restraining straps were in place and nothing had shifted.
All the items have been unloaded and are being stored in our lab or in other borrowed space on the third floor. Recovered items were:

4 gray plastic containers labelled UMd
2 gray plastic containers labelled PSU
2 red boxes from UMn
2 empty gray wooden boxes from UMd, stored at WFF
1 wooden instrument crate, disassembled (demolished), stored at WFF
lots of cardboard honeycomb

The UMd items have been unpacked and are visually in good condition. The PSU and UMd items have not been opened, and are available for pickup. As I understand it Mike will pick up his items at the June group meeting. The PSU crates are available whenever people are ready to pick them up.

Peter | Apr 26, 2006 01:50 PM EST

CREAM II recovery

Dear All,

The instrument crate packing is finished. I have posted some pictures on the CREAM bulletin board.

Sasha | Jan 18, 2006 10:53 PM EST

CREAM II Recovery Status -2

Excellent! I did not expect the recovery to be so quick. Congratulations to the recovery crew and to all of us!

On behalf of the CREAM collaboration, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciaition and gratitude to Dave, TinapCurtis & Derek for their dedicated support for the perfect launch and the outstanding recovery. Let me also thank Sasha, Jongmann, and Beth for this exceptionally efficient recovery.

Thank for all for being a great team!

Eun-Suk | Jan 15, 2006 04:41 PM EST

CREAM II Recovery Status

Dear All,

The CREAM-II payload is recovered. We got 100% of it and in good condition, as well as the parachute and UTP today. The condition of all subdetectors, carbon targets and structure is as good as it gets (or at least much better than average). We did all we can do to make it possible. I would like to thank all the participants, and first of all Beth, Curtis, Dave, Derek, Jongmann and Tina for a great job they have done to make the recovery successful! See pictures attached: the first one is the recovery site just before we flew back to the Wylly Field, second is taken at the Payload-1 barn where we brought the recovered payload equipment.

Sasha | Jan 15, 2006

CREAM II first recovery flight

Dear All,

The first CREAM-II recovery flight we had today was completed about two hours ago. The items recovered are:
1. Science Flash Drive.
2. CDM
3. TDRSS high gain antenna
4. TDRSS Omni antenna
5. All GPS and other antennas.
6. Rotator
7. Ballast hopper
8. Radiators

All cables were disconnected, no one was cut so far. No CDM hanger rods were cut (all unbolted). For the recovered items, some sperficial damage observed only for the CDM (external panels and frame) and to TDRSS high gain antenna shell. All the other items recovered without any damage. Other observed damage include: one payload leg bent, -Y solar panels damaged. The payload was not dragged by parachute, the traces (about 10 meters long) seem due to some light wind during the landing so that the payload was not landing completely vertically. See my pictures in the CREAM Bulletin Board (soon).
Tomorrow we will try to make another recovery flight. The takeoff time is around 8:30 am.

Sasha | Jan 14, 2006 06:15 AM EST

CREAM II flight Termination

Dear All,

The CERAM-II was succsessfully terminated today 13-Jan-20006 at about 15:52 NZT. It landed on the ice plateau behind the Terra Nova bay. The touchdown was with almost 0 wind and the parachute separated nicely, without dragging the payload. However the payload has tipped-over on its -X-Y (SFC corner). Once again, it lays not on a side, but on the -X-Y ISS corner post. Apart from the -Y side of the solar pannels there was no visual damage. One of the reason why it has fallen that way may be the crash-pad box separation during the parachute opening. It seems we have spotted that box at the snow a couple of miles from the landing site. We were even able to spot the balloon itself after its landing nearby! The pictures will follow soon. I will post them on the CREAM Bulletin Board. We are still having the communication blackouts and it may take a while. Tomorrow around 1 pm. we are going to try our first CREAM-II recovery Twin Otter flight. There will be me, Derek and Curtis onboard.

Sasha | Jan 13, 2006 05:44 AM EST

CREAM-II flight summary

Congratulations to all!

CREAM-II completed its 28 days of flight successfully. See below for the flight summary. The trajectory & altitude plots are also attached.

The flight termination went very well according to the Ice crew. The payload landed on the high plateau behind the Terra Nova bay. There was no wind at the time of the payload touch down and the parachute separated nicely without dragging the payload. Apparently the payload is sitting almost upright. Sasha reports: "...the payload was tipped on its -X-Y (SFC corner). Once again, it lays not on a side, but on the -X-Y ISS corner post. Apart from the -Y side of the solar panels there was no visual damage. One of the reason why it has fallen that way may be the crash-pad box separation during the parachute opening. It seems we have spotted that box at the snow a couple of miles from the landing site.We were even able to spot the balloon itself after its landing nearby!" Sasha and Jongman made some pictures available on the bulletin bd (where no passwd is required on the cream home page). The first Twin Otter flight to recover the CDM & the flash disk may be as early as 1 PM NZT.
My best wishes for the recovery crew.

ES

Flight No. 552 N
Organization/Experimenter: University of Maryland - NASA Wallops Flight
Facility / Dr. Eun-Suk Seo - David Pierce
Description: The Cosmic Ray Energetics and Mass (CREAM) project will investigate ultra-high-energy cosmic rays over the elemental range from protons to iron. The goal is to observe spectral features and/or abundance changes that might signify a limit to supernova acceleration.
Launch Site: McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Date/Time Launched: 15 December 2005 / 16:12 Z
Balloon: W 39.47-2-44
NSBF No.: 948
Mil Thickness: 0.8 mil
Balloon Weight: 4,088 lbs
Experiment Weight: 4,476 lbs
Suspended Weight: 5,676 lbs
Gross Inflation: 10, 740 lbs
Free Lift: 10%
Float Altitude: 131.3
Terminate Date/Time: 13 January 2006 / 01:22 Z
Impact Date/Time: 13 January 2006 / 02:04 Z
Impact Location: 74-22.1 South / 157-40.1 East (249 nm northwest of McMurdo Station, Antarctica)
Total Flight Time: 681 hours and 52 minutes (28 days, 9 hours and 52 minutes)
Condition of Payload: Good

Remarks: The flight was an operations and science success. It exceeded all required pre-flight requirements. The flight was characterized by a smooth launch in good weather conditions; and, a nominal ascent, float, termination, and parachute separation. Termination and successful parachute separation were accomplished by a combination of LOS commands sent from an RPSC LC-130 platform. The aircrew reports that the payload tipped over during parachute separation, but did not drag. The gondola reportedly appears to be in good condition.

EOM

David D. Gregory
Assistant Chief
NASA Balloon Program Office
Wallops Island, Virginia

Eun-Suk | Jan 12, 2006 05:58 AM EST

CREAM II Termination Plan - 2

SOC completed the shut down procedure about 4 pm EST today. The flight termination is expected in about 30 min or so.

Eun-Suk | Jan 12, 2006 05:58 AM EST

CREAM II Termination Plan

This is an advance flight termination notice:

Based upon the speed and heading over the past 48 hours, it appears the balloon will be over the East Antarctic Plateau tomorrow afternoon our time. In discussions with NSBF's Campaign Manager, NSF has pledged that air assets will be available as needed to effect termination with a high probability for recovery this season. In order to respond to optimizing for termination over an area that offers the best possibility for recovery, NSBF will need to be able to take advantage of any such opportunity once the payload comes back over the plateau. Please be prepared to respond accordingly once NSBF notifies the ESC that they are ready to go into the termination phase. ESC will in-turn notify the science team. It is our understanding that three hours notice is all that is required in order to ensure both the science and support systems are made ready as part of the pre-termination procedures. Once NSBF gives this 3 hour notice, be prepared for termination to occur subsequently at any time.
- David D. Gregory

Eun-Suk | Jan 11, 2006 11:55 AM EST

2nd Circumnavigation - 3

As you may have been noticed, the balloon decided to go off the track. The latitude has been changing quite rapidly to north. Unless the trajectory changes completely, we will not have a chance to have another round. NSBF is keeping a close eye on the trajectory and will try to bring down the payload somewhere safe. SOC should be prepared for the termination procedure, and we should hope the payload comes back close to McMurdo so that the recovery can be made this year.

Eun-Suk | Jan 4, 2006 07:34 PM EST

2nd Circumnavigation - 2

The CREAM payload just made its first circumnavigation and began its second.

Sasha was able to take pictures as the balloon flew over McMurdo. See the attached photo. NSBF was to have the video on as well.

ES

Eun-Suk, Our CREAM payload is overflying McMurdo right now. It is high over the horizon, bright and well visible. It is moving quite fast. The weather is sunny and clear all the day. Very few clouds if any. The temperature above freezing and a light wind. Enjoy the CREAM pictures I taken 10 minutes ago. (Yes, that small white spot at the middle of the frame!). The last one is taken with a large zoom and cropped. Sasha

Eun-Suk | Dec 29, 2005 11:11 AM EST

2nd Circumnavigation

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
I am finally back home and being defrosted. The balloon is making a nice circle and approaching McMurdo and it is time to discuss the 2nd circumnavigation. While I was stuck in LA (my flight from Auckland to LA was late and missed my connection), I had a discussion with NSBF, WFF and NASA HQ. NSBF reports that the balloon performance is excellent and the trajectory looks good. As per the WFF support system goes, there was about 1.5 hrs TDRSS data outage due to the Flight Computer 1 hang up, but switching over to Flight Computer 2 resumed the data flow. After the power cycling Flight Computer 1 is back. WFF is keeping the current configuration with Flight Computer 2 for now. WFF reports that there is no cause for concern as to any detrimental impact on the continuation of the mission. The main concern I have now is the Science Flight Computer which is on the 2nd boot source and not being able to archive. I want to hear from the subsystem leads on (1) your system performance, (2) the impact of not having archived data and (3) whether or not you want to go for the 2nd circumnavigation why asap.

Eun-Suk | Dec 26, 2005 12:34 AM EST

ATIC launch

The balloon is being laid out for the ATIC launch. The expected launch time is 5 pm NZT.

ES | Dec 18, 2005 9:36 PM EST

CREAM launch

CREAM was launched about 5:13 AM in the morning of Dec 16 local time, NZT. The fog got cleared up magically, and it was a beautiful launch. Thank you, Ice crew & SOC. Have a couple of hrs of rest while the balloon goes up and gear up for the LOS data.

ES | Dec 15, 2005 11:39 AM EST

SOC, confirm if the "launch site streaming video"on http://www.nsbf.nasa.gov/antarctica/ice0506.htm is working.

ES | Dec 15, 2005 8:58 AM EST

We are about to roll out to the launch pad. The estimated launch time is 2:30 AM NZT.

ES | Dec 15, 2005 8:21 AM EST

We have a communication outage. The internet has been extremely slow and eventually dead. I see one message going thru in about 2 hrs. I hope this message goes thru in time. Our phone lines are also dead. We will set up an Iridium modem for the chat line with SOC. We will also have two Iridium phones for an emergency discussion. It is being charged at the moment and we will start testing as soon as phones are charged.

We are currently waiting for the upper wind to set before we roll out to the flight line. The estimated launch time is midnight NZT. Allow +- couple of hrs.

ES | Dec 15, 2005 1:48 AM EST

It is time for a Go-NoGo decision. Let me know if anyone has any concern for Go. As you know, near-real time data are available on our web.

ES | Dec 14, 2005 11:21 PM EST

K, finally we got the blue sky back. The payload building door is open and the rotator is out. The estimated launch time is 10:00 pm NZT.

ES | Dec 14, 2005 8:50 PM EST

In case you are wondering, the webcam picture is real. We have condition 2 in Willy field due to fog. The projected launch is now delayed to ~7 pm.

ES | Dec 14, 2005 5:07 PM EST