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The testing of the vehicle is going well. The Lunar mode started today and stereo video images are being sent to NASA. Those of you that have satellite dishes may be able to see the testing live on NASA select video. NASA is relaying the test video to the world via their network.
A meeting was held between the Jason crew and the HVO (Hawaii Volcano Observatory) and we were informed that the lava flow is still proceeding from a new opening, and if it continues, will cut off the road behind the Jason site. This is being watched very closely and we may have to move the site with only a few hours notice. The insurance people wouldn't appreciate us having to sacrifice the equipment to Pele. Those of you who don't know who Pele is should continue to follow the logs, I will do a short write up on the myths as time allows. The lava flow could change at any time so we have a special watch set up 24 hours a day. The location Jason is using is a special place carved out by the park to allow us to turn around the large vehicles Jason uses for satellite, support, and production vehicles. The HVO and Park have said that every time they make a new place like this Pele gets mad and covers it up with lava!! The new lava flow has started many grass fires and the park has set back fires to clear the area Jason will be using,, this is done by helicopter and field firefighters. Water from the sea is picked up by the helicopters and spread over the areas where the fire is not to burn. The fires are then lit and burn to the area of wet vegetation. This then becomes a fire break for man made fires. The production people have been filming this and you may get to see some of it on the Jason shows.
The volcano is putting out allot of sulfur and breathing is very hard at times. I have been told that the volcano puts out pollutants with the equivalent of 30 coal burning power plants a day. There are times when breathing is very difficult. Every body will smell like sulfur when we get back.
The mountains around us are all covered with snow!!! Somebody tell my wife I am not laying around the beach under Palm trees, basking in the sun.... The temperature at Jasonville has been in the 80's and so far we have been lucky, NO RAIN. The difference between the 4000 foot high HVO location and Jasonville is quite dramatic.
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Gene Carl
Feldman
(gene@seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov)
(301) 286-9428
Todd Carlo Viola,
JASON Foundation for Education
(todd@jason.org)