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Hurricane Jeanne, seen from Space Station on Sept. 25, 2004
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Hurricane Jeanne

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Motions in nearby galaxy cluster reveal presence of hidden superstructure

Gravity Probe B mission begins collecting science to test Einstein's theory

  

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For release: 07/19/02
Satellite release #: 02-180

Attention: Early Morning Producer
 Thursday, July 25
6-10 a.m. EDT
Free 10-minute windows—with B-roll

For first time, pilotless plane to fly over, around Florida weather; special craft to help NASA, university scientists study storms

  • A plane remotely operated from the ground will make history flying over the Florida Everglades.

  • For the first time, a team of scientists will use an uninhabited aerial vehicle to gather weather data about thunderstorms to show the safety and utility of these aircraft for science research.

  • In August, the Altus Cumulus Electrification Study team will fly around and over -- but not into -- thunderstorms to study lightning activity and electrical environment.

  • The team from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., the University of Alabama in Huntsville, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and Penn State University will control the plane from the ground at the Naval Air Facility in Key West, Fla.

  • The plane, with a 55-foot wingspan, is about the size of a Cessna aircraft. It flies at slow speeds 70 to 100 knots (80 to 115 mph) and up to 55,000 feet.

  • The ALTUS uninhabited aerial vehicle from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc, in San Diego, Calif. is capable of flights up to 8 hours keeping it near thunderstorms from birth to death, providing valuable information to possibly improve future weather forecasting ability.

  • Talk with an expert about the storm study and how it will help us better understand and predict weather.

Who: Richard Blakeslee, Principal Investigator
or
Tony Kim, Project Manager
Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, Ala.
Satellite coordinates: GE-2, Transponder 9C,
85 degrees west longitude,
Frequency: 3880 MHz, audio: 6.8 MHz.
Contacts:

Satellite Interview Information:
Camille Sevier (256) 544-2188
or
Jack Robertson (256) 544-1517

Story Information:
Steve Roy, Media Relations
(256) 544-0034

For more information:

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