Student airborne research program

After all of the data was collected, we headed back toward Palmdale, elated with our successful flights! Before landing, however, we had a special treat in store for us! Before the flights, Dan had asked our pilot if it would be possible for us to experience zero gravity in the DC After we finished collecting data, we strapped ourselves into our seats and the pilot let us all experience 0. For a few seconds, we all felt our arms and legs become lighter and were laughing and cheering.

However, all good things come with a price! After the landing and our post-flight briefing, we helped unload the plane and headed back to the hotel. We are so grateful to all the DC-8 pilots and crew who made this incredible experience possible for us over the past week!

After relaxing and resting up over the 4th of July weekend, SARP participants will spend the rest of the summer analyzing the data they collected during the past week!

Flying so low made it extremely bumpy and a few people felt sick. June 28 SARP flight track from the morning flight. During the afternoon flight, we flew a planned missed approach over LAX to collect air samples from water treatment plants near the airport. It was a bit cloudy but we managed to get in some lines near the coast.

June 28 SARP flight track from the afternoon flight. The inside of the is almost completely empty to cut down on its weight so it can carry the Space Shuttle on its back. Julie inside the cockpit of the Shuttle Carrier. We also saw and learned more about the Global Hawks unmanned aerial vehicles used for airborne science.

After a long day, tired SARPians returned to the hotel to rest before the final two flights on Thursday. While walking out to the DC-8, we hummed the theme from Top Gun.

After a weather briefing from our meteorologist and flight briefings from our pilot and mission manager, we headed out to the DC We took some group shots in front of the plane we all wore our SARP t-shirts today! Preflight Breifing. Inside the DC-8, we all donned our headsets, strapped ourselves into our seats, and took off from the Palmdale Regional Airport. Inside the DC We also took some air samples with the Whole Air Sampler during the flight. In addition, we collected air samples over a water treatment plant near the airport in Palmdale just before we landed.

June 27 SARP flight track. After the flight, the Land group left to drive out to an almond orchard in the Central Valley. By Sherry Palacios and Shawn Kefauver. Daniel and Sherry took it easy and hiked down into the punchbowl to explore the desert streams. They found a delightful desert stream which was a welcome relief at 50 degrees F.

Daniel was very excited to explore the geology and lamented that he did not have his field scope handy so that he could identify the microscopic particles in the sandstone composite. SARP on a rock. We took plenty of water and had a great time exploring the native fauna, flora and rock outcroppings of the area. This has been a rare opportunity to explore scientific interests I would not have otherwise been able to, and am very grateful for it.

Also it has given me a taste of grad school and a leg up on how applications, fellowships, and other tips work through the mentors and faculty that are currently in or working for graduate programs.

General Studying Tips: Study in increments Use timers and put everything distracting cell phones away during that time Pomodoro method Focus on active recall Try practice. There are 4 research groups that each student can choose to join: Atmospheric: Whole Air Sampling Atmospheric: Photochemical Trace Gases Land Ocean Each group has a faculty member and accompanying graduate student mentor to guide their research for the rest of summer.

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