RF20
09/30/19
Takeoff: 0610 local
Landing: 1125 local
Flight: B2
Sondes Requested: 32
Sondes Deployed: 32
Issues: The launcher heaters stopped working.
1. D20190930_130534.1
183630645 \ Launch: 13:05:34
2. D20190930_131552.2
183630657 \ Launch: 13:15:52
3. D20190930_132202.3
180510212 \ Launch: 13:22:02
4. D20190930_132937.4
180520604 \ Launch: 13:29:37
5. D20190930_133814.1
180710894 \ Launch: 13:38:14
6. D20190930_134452.2
190520641 \ Launch: 13:44:52
7. D20190930_135409.3
183630601 \ Launch: 13:54:09
8. D20190930_140211.4
190150492 \ Launch: 14:02:11
9. D20190930_141029.1
183630542 \ Launch: 14:10:29
1412UTC, turned on launcher heaters.
10. D20190930_141824.2
180630133 \ Launch: 14:18:24
11. D20190930_142549.3
183630636 \ Launch: 14:25:49
12. D20190930_143424.4
183630626 \ Launch: 14:34:24
13. D20190930_144218.1
180710877 \ Launch: 14:42:18
Lost signal at 664mb
1448UTC, turned on the large heater as well as the two smaller heaters were not making a dent
today for some reason.
14. D20190930_144828.2
183640207 \ Launch: 14:48:28
15. D20190930_145624.3
183630648 \ Launch: 14:56:24
1501UTC, Temp 1=-0.8C and Temp 2=4.3C with all three heaters on.
16. D20190930_150542.4
183630541 \ Launch: 15:05:42
17. D20190930_151344.1
190520654 \ Launch: 15:13:44
18. D20190930_151914.2
180510225 \ Launch: 15:19:14
Lost GPS on launch
19. D20190930_152634.3
190450036 \ Launch: 15:26:34
20. D20190930_153500.4
183630627 \ Launch: 15:35:00
21. D20190930_154255.1
190150406 \ Launch: 15:42:55
22. D20190930_154919.2
180510227 \ Launch: 15:49:19
23. D20190930_155739.3
183630633 \ Launch: 15:57:39
24. D20190930_160717.4
183640210 \ Launch: 16:07:17
25. D20190930_161509.1
180630119 \ Launch: 16:15:09
26. D20190930_162034.2
180630106 \ Launch: 16:20:34
27. D20190930_162754.3
190230042 \ Launch: 16:27:54
28. D20190930_163610.4
190150437 \ Launch: 16:36:10
29. D20190930_164446.1
190220271 \ Launch: 16:44:46
1645UTC, Temp1=-4.3C and Temp2=0.8C
30. D20190930_165110.2
190350454 \ Launch: 16:51:10
31. D20190930_165925.3
190150491 \ Launch: 16:59:25
32. D20190930_170602.4
180630067 \ Launch: 17:06:02
1706UTC, Temp1=-4.5C, Temp2=0.3C
RF19
09/28/19
Takeoff: 0745 local
Landing: 1345
Flight: B2
Sondes Requested: 32
Sondes Deployed: 33
Issues: Drop 16 lost comms before launch detect. No D file, no nothing. Just disappeared. Aspen declared drop 7 as fast fall
1. D20190928_145006.1
180630121 \ Launch: 14:50:06
2. D20190928_145600.2
190520637 \ Launch: 14:56:00
3. D20190928_150327.3
190550214 \ Launch: 15:03:27
4. D20190928_151152
190510729 \ Launch: 15:11:52
5. D20190928_152009.1
190220923 \ Launch: 15:20:09
6. D20190928_152647.2
190550228 \ Launch: 15:26:47
7. D20190928_153516.3
190220290 \ Launch: 15:35:16
Drop 7 had a faster than average beginning fall rate ~32m/s but the data
still looks good and the speed normalized after a couple of minutes.
8. D20190928_154446.4
190220833 \ Launch: 15:44:46
1548UTC, turned on launcher heaters.
9. D20190928_155325.1
180630120 \ Launch: 15:53:25
10. D20190928_155850.2
180510215 \ Launch: 15:58:50
11. D20190928_160600.3
190330181 \ Launch: 16:06:00
12. D20190928_161430.4
190230198 \ Launch: 16:14:30
13. D20190928_162240.1
183630592 \ Launch: 16:22:40
14. D20190928_162921.2
183630620 \ Launch: 16:29:21
15. D20190928_163756.3
180630055 \ Launch: 16:37:56
16. Lost comms with this sonde at launch
17. D20190928_165022.1
180630131 \ Launch: 16:50:22
18. D20190928_165529.2
183630622 \ Launch: 16:55:29
19. D20190928_170036.5
183630590 \ Launch: 17:00:36
20. D20190928_170801.3
183630621 \ Launch: 17:08:01
21. D20190928_171226.4
183640205 \ Launch: 17:12:26
22. D20190928_172412.1
183630604 \ Launch: 17:24:12
23. D20190928_173047.2
180630122 \ Launch: 17:30:47
24. D20190928_173901.3
183630684 \ Launch: 17:39:01
25. D20190928_174521.4
190350309 \ Launch: 17:45:21
26. D20190928_175705.1
190230211 \ Launch: 17:57:05
27. D20190928_180255.2
183630594 \ Launch: 18:02:55
28. D20190928_181022.3
180630076 \ Launch: 18:10:22
29. D20190928_181901.4
190210667 \ Launch: 18:19:01
30. D20190928_182803.1
190220797 \ Launch: 18:28:03
31. D20190928_183437.2
183630602 \ Launch: 18:34:37
32. D20190928_184242.3
183640252 \ Launch: 18:42:42
33. D20190928_184909.4
180630135 \ Launch: 18:49:09
1850UTC, turned off launcher heaters.
RF18
09/27/19
Takeoff: 0613 local
Landing: 1136 local
Flight: B2
Sondes Requested: 32
Sondes Deployed: 32
Issues: None
1. D20190927_131609.1
190220788 \ Launch: 13:16:09
2. D20190927_132134.2
180630083 \ Launch: 13:21:34
3. D20190927_132839.3
190220787 \ Launch: 13:28:39
4. D20190927_133717.4
190350311 \ Launch: 13:37:17
5. D20190927_134528.1
190230149 \ Launch: 13:45:28
6. D20190927_135204.2
190220780 \ Launch: 13:52:04
7. D20190927_140029.3
190630795 \ Launch: 14:00:29
1404UTC, turned on launcher heaters.
8. D20190927_140948.4
190230026 \ Launch: 14:09:48
9. D20190927_141734.1
190520177 \ Launch: 14:17:34
10. D20190927_142327.2
190550239 \ Launch: 14:23:27
11. D20190927_143030.3
190640165 \ Launch: 14:30:30
12. D20190927_143908.4
190150274 \ Launch: 14:39:08
13. D20190927_144741.1
190231017 \ Launch: 14:47:41
14. D20190927_145414.2
190220294 \ Launch: 14:54:14
15. D20190927_150237.3
190220830 \ Launch: 15:02:37
16. D20190927_151200.4
190350451 \ Launch: 15:12:00
17. D20190927_152053.1
190230022 \ Launch: 15:20:53
18. D20190927_152631.2
190510700 \ Launch: 15:26:31
19. D20190927_153352.3
190230031 \ Launch: 15:33:52
20. D20190927_154240.4
190230923 \ Launch: 15:42:40
21. D20190927_155124.1
180630113 \ Launch: 15:51:24
22. D20190927_155746.2
190230024 \ Launch: 15:57:46
23. D20190927_160546.3
190230035 \ Launch: 16:05:46
24. D20190927_161514.4
190630437 \ Launch: 16:15:14
25. D20190927_162336.1
190550233 \ Launch: 16:23:36
26. D20190927_162932.2
190150801 \ Launch: 16:29:32
27. D20190927_163700.3
190520079 \ Launch: 16:37:00
28. D20190927_164546.4
190510668 \ Launch: 16:45:46
29. D20190927_165522.1
180450524 \ Launch: 16:55:22
30. D20190927_170143.2
190510701 \ Launch: 17:01:43
31. D20190927_171006.3
190140236 \ Launch: 17:10:06
32. D20190927_171626.4
190640166 \ Launch: 17:16:26
Had to wait to turn off the launcher heaters until we were on the ground due to turbulence.
I have repacked our tool chest and it is ready for shipment. I have also organized and
taped up 7 boxes of cardboard packing material, desiccant packets and sonde sensor covers.
All the boxes are numbered and labeled and ready for shipment.
There are two more flights scheduled this week if all goes well. RF18 on 09/27
and RF19 on 09/28. Hard down day is scheduled for Sunday. I think the PI's would
like three more flights next week, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but no word from NSF
yet.
I came across 5 miscellaneous sondes and one that had run in the launcher for 90 minutes.
I measured the battery voltage of each and all are good (>8VDC) so they have been placed into the
inventory for the next flight. I have 92 sondes that are either completely unpacked or unpacked
down to the plastic wrap ready to go. Depending upon what we hear from NSF will determine the
next steps. I don't want to unpack sondes that may not get used and just have to be repacked.
In any case, we are in good shape. We have 212 sondes total on site and ready for immediate use on this project.
RF17
09/25/19
Takeoff: 0612 local
Landing: 1125 local
Sondes Requested: 29
Sondes Deployed: 25
Issues: None
1. D20190925_131018.1
190430393 \ Launch: 13:10:18
2. D20190925_131734.2
190150438 \ Launch: 13:17:34
3. D20190925_132510.3
190630408 \ Launch: 13:25:10
4. D20190925_133244.4
190550232 \ Launch: 13:32:44
5. D20190925_134132.1
190510730 \ Launch: 13:41:32
6. D20190925_134900.2
190550248 \ Launch: 13:49:00
~1345UTC turned on launcher heaters.
7. D20190925_135512.3
190210668 \ Launch: 13:55:12
8. D20190925_140316.4
180630089 \ Launch: 14:03:16
9. D20190925_141150.1
190550236 \ Launch: 14:11:50
10. D20190925_142010.2
190510714 \ Launch: 14:20:10
11. D20190925_142805.3
190550229 \ Launch: 14:28:05
12. D20190925_144223.1
190350413 \ Launch: 14:42:23
13. D20190925_144918.2
190520639 \ Launch: 14:49:18
14. D20190925_145658.3
190630435 \ Launch: 14:56:58
15. D20190925_150423.4
190150271 \ Launch: 15:04:23
16. D20190925_151319.1
185140413 \ Launch: 15:13:19
17. D20190925_152112.2
190150465 \ Launch: 15:21:12
18. D20190925_153028.3
190220276 \ Launch: 15:30:28
19. D20190925_153623.4
180630085 \ Launch: 15:36:23
20. D20190925_154412.1
185140032 \ Launch: 15:44:12
21. D20190925_155211.2
190630798 \ Launch: 15:52:11
22. D20190925_161337.3
190230082 \ Launch: 16:13:37
23. D20190925_162127.1
185140036 \ Launch: 16:21:27
24. D20190925_162842.2
190630406 \ Launch: 16:28:42
25. D20190925_163557.4
190510771 \ Launch: 16:35:57
1638UTC, turned off laucnher heaters.
RF16
09/24/19
Takeoff: 0611 local
Landing: 1130 local
Flight track: B2
Sondes Requested: 32
Sondes Deployed:
Issues: Several sondes briefly lost GPS on launch, one sonde lost GPS on launch that did not recover so
another sonde was launched shortly after.
1. D20190924_131526.1
190630796 \ Launch: 13:15:26
2. D20190924_132044.2
190550242 \ Launch: 13:20:44
3. D20190924_132728.3
190520702 \ Launch: 13:27:28
4. D20190924_133536.4
190520699 \ Launch: 13:35:36
5. D20190924_134332.1
190230083 \ Launch: 13:43:32
6. D20190924_135022.2
190220881 \ Launch: 13:50:22
7. D20190924_135912.3
190220785 \ Launch: 13:59:12
8. D20190924_140916.4
190510667 \ Launch: 14:09:16
1411UTC turned on launcher heaters.
9. D20190924_141717.1
190510679 \ Launch: 14:17:17
10. D20190924_142218.2
190510386 \ Launch: 14:22:18
11. D20190924_142913.3
180630108 \ Launch: 14:29:13
12. D20190924_143730.4
190550260 \ Launch: 14:37:30
13. D20190924_144526.1
190430390 \ Launch: 14:45:26
14. D20190924_145203.2
190550200 \ Launch: 14:52:03
15. D20190924_150041.3
190150464 \ Launch: 15:00:41
16. D20190924_151034.4
190230084 \ Launch: 15:10:34
17. D20190924_151837.1
190550245 \ Launch: 15:18:37
18. D20190924_152353.2
190550241 \ Launch: 15:23:53
19. D20190924_153058.3
190450033 \ Launch: 15:30:58
20. D20190924_153913.4
190510713 \ Launch: 15:39:13
21. D20190924_154717.1
190520647 \ Launch: 15:47:17
22. D20190924_155349.2
190550231 \ Launch: 15:53:49
23. D20190924_160209.3
190550206 \ Launch: 16:02:09
24. D20190924_161135.4
180710881 \ Launch: 16:11:35
Lost GPS at launch, launching another
25.D20190924_161435.1
190520178 \ Launch: 16:14:35
26. D20190924_161941.2
190510558 \ Launch: 16:19:41
27. D20190924_162504.5
190150810 \ Launch: 16:25:04
28. D20190924_163219.3
190230033 \ Launch: 16:32:19
29. D20190924_164051.4
190450031 \ Launch: 16:40:51
30. D20190924_164935.1
180450534 \ Launch: 16:49:35
31. D20190924_165614.2
190150808 \ Launch: 16:56:14
Brief loss of GPS at launch.
32. D20190924_170434.3
190150914 \ Launch: 17:04:34
33.
190550201 \ Launch: 17:11:36
1712UTC, turned off launcher heaters.
This inventory has been taken after RF15 was conducted.
Un-packaged still in the box sondes: 200
Unpacked sondes: 64
Parachute popped early and can be repacked: 20
Broken or in of need of parts we do not have here: 11
NRD94: 4
So to sum up we have 264 sondes we can use right away assuming the rest are all good.
We have 20 I can repack the parachute on so that gives us a total of 288 sondes on site
that we can use for the project.
We can squeeze in five more flights at the most before October 1st.
RF15
09/22/19
Takeoff: 0622 local
Landing: 1200 local
Flight Track: B1c
Sondes Requested: 29
Sondes Deployed: 32
Issues: Nothing serious. Several sondes briefly lost GPS at launch but reacquired quickly.
1. D20190922_131551.1
190550246 \ Launch: 13:15:51
2. D20190922_132251.2
190230197 \ Launch: 13:22:51
3. D20190922_133047.3
190220777 \ Launch: 13:30:47
4. D20190922_133925.4
190150804 \ Launch: 13:39:25
5. D20190922_134717.1
190150926 \ Launch: 13:47:17
6. D20190922_135319.2
190210670 \ Launch: 13:53:19
7. D20190922_140109.3
190430395 \ Launch: 14:01:09
8. D20190922_140933.4
190630785 \ Launch: 14:09:33
1412UTC, tunred on the two small launcher heaters at 2.5C
9. D20190922_141725.1
190230215 \ Launch: 14:17:25
10. D20190922_143209.2
190550252 \ Launch: 14:32:09
11. D20190922_143909.3
190150803 \ Launch: 14:39:09
12. D20190922_144654.1
190510703 \ Launch: 14:46:54
13. D20190922_145556.4
190630405 \ Launch: 14:55:56
Brief loss of GPS at launch but quick recovery
14. D20190922_150342.2
190230966 \ Launch: 15:03:42
15. D20190922_150836.3
190550247 \ Launch: 15:08:36
16. D20190922_151714.1
190630436 \ Launch: 15:17:14
17. D20190922_152510.4
190430392 \ Launch: 15:25:10
18. D20190922_154415.1
190630438 \ Launch: 15:44:15
Brief loss of GPS at launch
19. D20190922_155154.2
190550213 \ Launch: 15:51:54
20. D20190922_160039.3
190510770 \ Launch: 16:00:39
21. D20190922_160920.4
190230081 \ Launch: 16:09:20
22. D20190922_161539.1
190230920 \ Launch: 16:15:39
23. D20190922_162446.2
190550199 \ Launch: 16:24:46
24. D20190922_163105.3
190550208 \ Launch: 16:31:05
25. D20190922_163642.4
190510378 \ Launch: 16:36:42
26. D20190922_164618.1
190150793 \ Launch: 16:46:18
27. D20190922_165356.2
190150925 \ Launch: 16:53:56
28. D20190922_170055.3
190550250 \ Launch: 17:00:55
29. D20190922_171054.4
190520634 \ Launch: 17:10:54
30. D20190922_171651.1
190220783 \ Launch: 17:16:51
31. D20190922_172451.2
190550205 \ Launch: 17:24:51
32. D20190922_173058.3
190550210 \ Launch: 17:30:58
1731UTC, turned off launcher heaters.
RF14 09/21/19
Take Off: 0612 local
Landed: 1220 local
Flight Pattern: B2
Sondes requested: 32
Sondes deployed: 34
Launched sonde issues: None! Zero, zip, nada!
Pre-flight issues: Two sondes had issues and could not be dropped. One sonde refused to recondition after many, many attempts
and one sonde has a dead battery so we could only launch 34 sondes. It has been decided by the PI's that we will now load 40
sondes per flight as time is running out and no one yet knows if there will be an extension.
To try to stabilize the launcher heat I have pulled the CB for the large heater
on the launcher so we can see how the two smaller heaters do. Just trying to
eliminate the need to continuously turn on and off the heaters throughout the flight.
1. D20190921_131750.1
190550209 \ Launch: 13:17:50
2. D20190921_133016.2
190630407 \ Launch: 13:30:16
3. D20190921_133838.3
190150805 \ Launch: 13:38:38
4. D20190921_134647.1
190550243 \ Launch: 13:46:47
5. D20190921_135338.4
180450480 \ Launch: 13:53:38
6. D20190921_140228.2
190230079 \ Launch: 14:02:28
7. D20190921_141220.3
190510772 \ Launch: 14:12:20
1415UTC, turned on the two smaller heaters
8. D20190921_142030.1
190550234 \ Launch: 14:20:30
9. D20190921_142544.2
190520737 \ Launch: 14:25:44
10. D20190921_143244.4
190150930 \ Launch: 14:32:44
11. D20190921_144056.3
190630786 \ Launch: 14:40:56
12. D20190921_144902.1
190230146 \ Launch: 14:49:02
13. D20190921_145556.2
190230919 \ Launch: 14:55:56
14. D20190921_150438.4
180710899 \ Launch: 15:04:38
15. D20190921_151438.3
190230181 \ Launch: 15:14:38
16. D20190921_152248.1
190230023 \ Launch: 15:22:48
17. D20190921_152806.2
190510715 \ Launch: 15:28:06
18. D20190921_153520.4
190330085 \ Launch: 15:35:20
19. D20190921_154348.3
190150908 \ Launch: 15:43:48
20. D20190921_155200.1
190220515 \ Launch: 15:52:00
21. D20190921_155844.2
190230962 \ Launch: 15:58:44
1600UTC diverting around weather so going off flight track.
22. D20190921_160830.3
190150809 \ Launch: 16:08:30
23. D20190921_161612.4
190150928 \ Launch: 16:16:12
24. D20190921_162702.1
190230195 \ Launch: 16:27:02
25. D20190921_163222.2
190150798 \ Launch: 16:32:22
26. D20190921_163928.3
190150489 \ Launch: 16:39:28
27. D20190921_164720.4
190510389 \ Launch: 16:47:20
With the two small heaters Temp 1 and Temp 2 are holding steady at 5.5 and 4.0 degrees C respectively.
28. D20190921_165610.1
190550249 \ Launch: 16:56:10
29. D20190921_170527.2
190150799 \ Launch: 17:05:27
30.D20190921_171544.3
190230183 \ Launch: 17:15:44
31. D20190921_172426.1
190230246 \ Launch: 17:24:26
32. D20190921_173632.4
190330189 \ Launch: 17:36:32
33. D20190921_174849.2
190530260 \ Launch: 17:48:49
34. D20190921_175614.1
190510373 \ Launch: 17:56:14
1757UTC turned off heaters before landing.
Well after much waiting around RF14 was cancelled today due to a hydraulic valve issue.
Hopefully the replacement will arrive tomorrow with time for installation and flights will
resume Friday.
Mack sent me some old documentation with start up, shut down and trouble shooting
procedures that I am updating. The HCR crew has more than enough people here on
site and have kindly volunteered to step in if we need them. Their enthusiasm is quite impressive.
RF13 09/17/19
Take off: 0830 local
Landed: 1400 local
Drops requested: 29
Drops deployed: 30
Issues: 1
Drop 29 had an IR issue at launch and no launch detect and
no more comms! Just disappeared into the ether. . .
0836 Launcher temps:
Air Temp: 37.06 C
PCB Temp: 36.0 C
RH: 28%
Spare 1: 27.3
Spare 2: 27.0
Delayed drop 2 per Dave's request
Dave has requested to call next several drops on his command.
4:48PM UTC
Spare 1: 0.3
Spare 2: 5.3
4:49PM UTC turned on launcher heaters
Spare 1: 2.3
Spare 2: 5.3
Heaters are working
4:54PM
Spare 1: 14.8
Spare 2: 8.8
5:09PM UTC turned heaters off when spare 1 reached 30 C
Spare 1: 28.5
Spare 2: 18.8
6:01PM UTC turned heaters on again when spare 1 reached 0 C
6:24PM UTC turned heaters off
There was an IR error with sonde 29, it left the plane
but no more comms. No data for drop 29.
7:16PM UTC turned on heaters
7:24PM UTC turned off heaters before landing
Today was a maintenance day due to the avionics issue on the GV which gave me a chance
to finish creating the power cables and then install them. Of course I had to install them twice as my
first choice of placement on our rack was not the first choice of the mechanics. Working between the wall
and the storage bin in the back of the GV baggage compartment is not as easy at it looks. I tested the
heaters on the ground in air temp of ~32.0 C and they work just fine. We shall see if they can make a
dent at -70 C, 45,000 ft and what ~450kts?
I optimistically unpacked another box of sondes down to the plastic wrap so we have three flights worth that can
be prepped the morning of.
The GV is still experiencing avionics issues that require Gulfstream pros so the aircraft will head to Florida tomorrow morning.
It seems the best possible scenario is research flights resume 9/16.
Flight plan: Alt B1, Gulf of Panama, Caribbean
Takeoff at 0800 local
Landed ~ 1430 local
Drops Requested: 32
Drops Deployed: 32
Issues: 1 drop no winds, several ADS program restarts and the flight map did not update for about the first half of the flight. No show
stoppers, just minor tweaks.
After a very long maintenance day and a very patient Matt and Jason all four launcher springs have been replaced.
(And thanks Mack for hand delivering them to us!)
The launcher required several assembly builds as parts would get stuck and jam because everything was not aligned or did
not stay aligned as it was reassembled and installed. We tried to finish the three heater cables once the launcher
was installed but before the storage bin was replaced and even with the group effort we ran out of time due to crew
duty limits and not wanting to delay today's flight too late. The consensus was to fly today and tomorrow and I will
finish the heater cables on Wednesday.
Today's flight went very well. Thirty-two out of thirty-two sondes left the aircraft, no fast falls and one sonde with no winds for most
of the drop. Mack recorded several high-speed videos of sondes being launched. When compared to earlier videos he recorded
the difference is impressive. (I am sure he will upload his footage when he has a chance.)
Just found out no flight tomorrow. Don't yet know why.
Today the aircraft mechanics disassembled the launcher ejection gate valve to confirm yesterdays diagnosis. No additional damage beyond the broken springs was found that would be a cause for concern for this mission. The launcher needs to be checked after the completion of this campaign. Mack will be flying in from Denver tomorrow and hand carry the springs. They will be installed on Sunday and the launcher will be put back into place. The next science flight is planned for Monday. Dave Raymond has been kept up to date on these plans.
The springs, which we had ordered from San Jose are unfortunately too long due to a misunderstanding in the specifications. They have been custom made for us ( for $5 each). With more time and better understanding of what the specifications actually referred to, this would have been a viable option, but not under the time pressure to solve this issue.
Ejection gate valve plate with all four springs, three of which are missing at the hook on the valve body side. On the right view of broken spring prior to opening the gate valve.
Ejection gate vale body with scoff marks from the moving springs. This needs to be reviewed after the campaign.
Teflon plate, open valve body, and valve plate through launch tube, all showing only minimal wear
Laura preparing the launcher for the heaters.
Today the aircraft mechanics pulled the launcher so that we could inspect it closer and install the heaters. Steve Rauenbuehler had sent us the schematics (Launcher_drawings.PDF) to help in the investigation of the launcher problems. Without opening up the launcher, we could see that three of the four springs pulling back the valve gate were broken and that only one spring was under tension in the closed state. This explains all symptoms we had seen. Possibly the third spring broke on the last flight, preventing any further sondes to be launched. We are working on finding the replacement springs both in Costa Rica and getting them sent from the US. The installation would be done together with Matt Thronton and Jason Morris, who had some exposure to the launcher when it was built. The installation should not take more than a few hours. Getting the parts is the limiting factor at the moment.