Day 9 - Return to DMSP RTD Testing

Work Related Items
Today the JPSS team completed their reconfiguration by mid AM McMurdo time, this allowed the SPO/Aerospace staff to begin collecting F17/F18 real-time data (RTD).  The team is working hard to find a cloud free shot of McMurdo Station but yesterday and today have been cloudy with light to moderate snow showers.  Because the two satellites will be approaching their self-conflict period over McMurdo the satellite contacts are back to back or have encroached on one another.  Consequently the first pass (F18) is shortened to collect the full duration of the second pass (F17).  In fact, a few F18 passes have been only 2-4 minutes long so we've deferred on collecting the RTD instead focusing on the F17 horizon to horizon contacts.

Some of today's passes were taken and fed to the MDTS and Aerospace laptop during the MMCS network outage window.  We were pleased to find that the Ground Operations (GO) software continued to schedule the T-Site receptor allowing MDTS to collect but not necessarily transfer data to AFWA.  After the brief network outage all the data appeared to be successfully transferred without issue. Lastly, we found a couple of passes where the space to ground link closed at ~4 degrees of antenna elevation; local obscura believed to be the cause.  Many of the contacts close the link between the horizon and 1.0 degree of elevation, something that is very encouraging for AFWA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center users as they will have greatly improved Antarctic coverage of OLS fine imagery.

McMurdo Experiences to Share
Today the team broke off to enjoy a local attraction, OK that's an overstatement as it really is a Quonset hut converted into the "coffee hut" where one can enjoy a good cup of Joe.  They serve hot tea, mocha, espresso, lattes and regular coffee and provide a venue to escape the daily grind; pun intentional.  Some folks choose to fancy up their coffee with an adult elixir, e.g. Bailey's Irish Cream or Kahlua.  The other night the team skipped dinner at the galley and headed to the local bar for "burger night."  Apparently they offer this service weekly (Thursdays) to help break up the routine of the galley's buffet service.  The burgers come as singles, doubles, with/without cheese, bacon and a generous serving of curly fries.  All burger combos are the same price, a very affordable $3 but the beer and wine vary in cost but still very reasonable despite being at the bottom of the world.  I've included pictures of the coffee hut and also the adjacent movie theater that intersect to share common bathrooms and storage.

Other unique items at McMurdo are the four wheel drive 12-15 passenger vans that provide taxi services around the Station or local areas, e.g. New Zealand's Scott Base, flight line(s), research sites, etc.  The vans are amazing and really handle the widely varying terrain and mountain roads well.  If that is not enough traction then USAP brings out the big guns with their tracked four wheel drive pickups or the numerous Hagglunds.  Enjoy the more recent pictures immediately below, however, the Hagglund was pictured earlier in day 4.