Quicklook Data Handling

It is very straightforward to retrieve MTP data from an aircraft and FTP it to JPL. It is also very easy to process quick look data to verify that the instruments are working properly. This page summarizes what is involved. Local links are given below.

Retrieving Data from Aircraft

FTPing Data to JPL

Quick Look Analysis

Set Up MTPinfo File

Perform Retrieval

Examine Engineering Data

Plot CTC

Retrieving Data from Aircraft

DC-8: The figure above shows the DC-8 Data Unit (top, with large JPL logo) and Real Time Computer (below, with small JPL logo). To retrieve MTP data, first check that the MTP is off. This will be the case if the yellow fuse button on the middle of the Real Time Computer is pulled out so that you can see the white part of the fuse. If the MTP is off, lift the sliding door to the bottom left side of the Data Unit, and pull out the PCMCIA Flash Memory card.

ER-2: The figure above shows the ER-2 MTP fairing , which is located on the right engine cheek. Below the fairing is an access plate (shown open) through which the a sliding door (identical to the one on the DC-8 data unit) can be accessed to retrieve the PCMCIA Flash Memory card containing the flight data. After a flight, check with the Crew Chief to have the access plate opened. Once permission is given,you will need a short step ladder to reach the PCMCIA card.

FTPing Data to JPL

To FTP data to JPL, place the PCMCIA card in one of the two slots on the middle lefthand side of the Toshiba Satellite Pro 4600 laptop computer. Once the operating system recognizes the card, use Explorer to copy the raw MTP data files from the FlashCard to the CAMEX4 raw data directory on the laptop (C:\DC8\CAMEX4\Raw\ for the DC-8 and C:\ER2\CAMEX4\Raw\ for the ER-2). The raw data files on the Flashcard are in the "DC8" and "ER2" directories in the root of each card. There are two large files (~1 MB for an 8 hour flight) for each flight (a data file and an acceleration file), and in the case of the ER-2, two additional short files from preflight checkout. The format for these file is:

Data File: Dymmddhh.xx (DC-8-) and Eymmddhh.xx (ER-2), and Acceleration File: Aymmddhh.xx (both aircraft),

where y=year, mm=month, dd=day, hh=hour, and xx=minutes indicate the time that the file was created. If the MTP computers are restarted for some reason, there will be additional files. For completeness, copy all the files created on the current flight day. This is most easily done in Explorer by using Details and then clicking on the (date) Modified column to order the files by creation date. Select the files to be copied, and drag them into the C:\DC8\CAMEX4\Raw\ or C:\ER2\CAMEX4\Raw\ folders on the laptop.

Before removing the FlashCard, "STOP" it, by double clicking the PCMCIA icon on the lower right hand side of the Windows display, select the FlashCard to be removed (Be careful not to select the Mini PCI card!), and then click the STOP button. When a message box opens saying "Safe to remove card", click OK and remove the card.

Now FTP the data to the JPL MTP FTP server using the WS_FTP program in the Internet Folder on the Windows Desktop. Double click the WS_FTP icon to open the program. Select the MTP Group site (profile) and click OK. A dialog box will open requesting a Password, which you should provide. Then click OK. You should end up in the root of the laptop and in the CAMEX4 directory of the server. On the laptop, navigate to the DC-8 or ER-2 Raw folder where you put the PC card data. Drag the files for the current flight from the C:\DC8\CAMEX4\Raw\ directory (or equivalent ER2 directory) on the laptop to the JPL MTP server. After the files have transferred, exit WS_FTP.

Return to the aircraft and re-insert the FlashCard in the Data Unit (DU) and slide the access door closed. Note: the instrument will not run if the card is not returned. On the ER-2 ask the Crew Chief to have someone close the access plate.

Quick Look Analysis

There are four steps to quick look analysis:

Set up MTPinfo file
Use MTPref to perform a retrieval for the flight
Use MJMacros in Excel to look and engineering and other data , and
Use MTPscroll to plot a temperature curtain for flight poster board .

Set Up MTPinfo File

In the MTP Folder on the desktop, double click the MTPinfo icon to bring up the FLTINFO Summary dialog box shown to the right. This should always be the first set when processing a new flight.

Use the Platform combo box the select the correct aircraft (ER2 or DC8)
Use the Mission combo box to select the correct mission (CAMEX4)
Use the the Flt Date combo box to select the last flight (usually the last item on the list) for this platform.
Click the IN File button to load all dialog box tabs with the flight information for this flight. THIS IS IMPORTANT! Why? Because we are continually switching between the ER2 and DC8, and if the IN File button is not clicked, one aircraft could end up with calibration information for the other. Take your time, think, and do it right.
Edit the Flt Date, Flt No, and Purpose combo boxes to reflect the new flight that you wish to process. This done, click the Add Flight button to add the flight to the list of available flights. Then, click the Write button to save this information permanently to disk. (The combo box information is saved in a text file: c:\DC8\CAMEX4\CAMEX4.NUM, which can be changed with a text editor if necessary.
Finally, click the Default button on the Destination File to Put frame to set this flight as the default flight for all succeeding analysis steps.

Perform Retrieval

Once the default flight information has been set up in the previous step, double click the MTPret icon in the MTP Folder to begin a retrieval. Since this is a new flight that is being processed, two things need to be done.

First, use the Copy Raw button to open a dialog to navigate the appropriate raw data file for this flight (for example, on the DC8, go to the c:\DC8\Raw\Dymmddhh.mm file that you created in the very first step above.) The program will create a directory with the name: YYYYMMDD under the CAMEX4 folder (after asking you if you want to do this), and automatically rename the raw data file to have a name: DCYYYYMMDD.RAW (for the DC-8).

Second, click the Copy Cal button to copy the default CAMEX4 calibration file to the YYYYMMDD flight directory.

Finally, click the Start button to process the data.

Examine Engineering Data

Once the retrieval has completed, double click the Excel icon in the MTP Folder to open MS Excel. One the right end of the Menu bar is a pull down tab labelled MJMarcos. Select the top item on this list: Plot Dialog. Examine the Flight tab (above) to make sure that Excel is going to process the correct flight. (It will select whatever the current default flight is.) If not, select the correct flight. Click the Get REF button to read engineering information from the Random Everything File into a speadsheet. The Dialog Box will close after reading the information to allow you to edit any bad data, which is easily caught by examining the Min and Max values. (This is sometimes necessary on the ER2 because the MTP starts before Navigation data is available.)

Now switch to the Command tab (above) and click the Plot All button . This will plot all the diagnostic plots. Using an earlier flight as a guide, examine the Engineering temperatures, sky and base counts, noise diode counts, and other plots to make sure that they look reasonable.

Plot CTC

It is normal after each flight to plot a color-coded temperature curtain (CTC) to post to the CAMEX-4 web site, and on a bulletin board in the meeting room.Normally this will be done by MJ using the data that has been posted to the MTP server.He will then email a GIF or PNG image which can be posted on the bulletin board. However, should you want to try your hand at it, then run MTPscroll from the MTP Folder on the desk top. Click on the MTP logo in the bottom leffhand corner. This will open the default file. Normally this is an ERF (Editted REF File). If the program does not find an ERF file it will ask you if you want to use a REF file. Answer OK.

Now click the UT [k-sec] option to get UT ks. For Y scale use 0-28 km for DC8 and 12-28 km for ER2. For Z scale use 190-310 K for DC8 and 200-240 K for ER2.

Select Use PRELIMINARY to put this word on plot. Leave other options alone

No need to change anything unless you are adventureous. Click Start Plot button to complete plot. When finished, select File/Save BMP to save plot.

Use ACDsee in the MTP folder to print plot.