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   You are at: NWS Home » SRH Home » SR News » 2004 » WFO Midland/Odessa Helps NASA

WFO Midland/Odessa Helps NASA with High Altitude Calibrations


(L to R) A.L. Researcher Holger Voemel, Midland/Odessa HMT Michael Young, A.L. Researchers Thomas Thompson and Richard Winkler prepare for balloon release (Photo: Wayne Patterson, WFO Midland/Odessa)
Starting in the 1960s, NASA began flying high altitude research missions collecting data for the nation's scientific community. Based at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, NASA's High Altitude Research Program uses two fully operational WB-57 aircraft. But an experimental project last month found one of the WB-57s chasing a National Weather Service weather balloon high above the hills of west Texas.

Researchers Holger Voemel, Thomas Thompson and Richard Winkler, of NOAA's Aeronomy Laboratory in Boulder, Colo. tapped the team at the NWS Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Midland/Odessa to help conduct the experiment. The researchers needed to recalibrate the instruments on the WB-57 for use in measuring chemical compounds, detecting ozone levels and other high altitude atmospheric research. They wanted to be sure the instruments were functioning properly when called upon for new upper air measurements.

Working closely with the WFO's Data Acquisition Program Manager Eddie Brite, Electronic Systems Analyst Wayne Peterson and Hydrometeorological Technicians Michael Young and Susan Griffin, the researchers launched a large weather balloon with a special instrument package. Fully inflated, the balloon was 20 feet tall with a 15 foot diameter.

After launch, the plane met and tracked the balloon up to 61,000 feet. The balloon rose to 92,000 feet before it burst. One radiosonde package (with a Global Positioning System) provided latitude and longitude data along with the pressure altimeter readings. The package was later recovered west of San Angelo. Measurements were made comparing the aircraft instruments against the balloon instruments and the flight was deemed a success.

In addition to the electronics staff and upper air team, the entire staff at WFO Midland/Odessa pitched in to support the project. A prime example of interagency coordination and teamwork, NOAA's Aeronomy Laboratory, National Weather Service and NASA worked together to provide a critical service to the scientific community and the nation.

High altitude WB-57 research aircraft (NASA Photo)
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