Flight Tracking Basics
What is the unique code used to identify an aircraft?
The Aircraft Registration Number
This person uses a flight tracking app to find and record plane data
The Mission Flight Tracker
What kind of photos show the weather conditions at your location?
Weather Photos
Which NASA team will use the data we collect?
The GLOBE Cloud Team
What are the two types of photos we take for the mission?
Weather Photos and Mission Photos
What do we call the height at which a plane is flying?
Altitude
This person takes photos of planes and the sky after they pass
The Mission Photographer
What are the particles like smoke or haze that block the sky called?
Sky Obstructions
What is the name of the polar-orbiting satellite used in the mission?
NOAA-20
When do we take follow-up photos after a plane passes?
3, 5, 10, and 15 minutes later
What direction format is used to track where a plane is flying?
Azimuth (degrees from north)
This team member collects and organizes all data to send to NASA
What kind of cloud forms from aircraft and may spread out over time?
Contrails
How many times per day can NOAA-20 collect data at a location?
Twice a day
What is the name of the order or timing of photos taken after a plane passes?
Photo Sequence
Why do we focus on planes flying above 20,000 feet?
To study humidity levels in the upper atmosphere.
Who helps find the location of the plane in the sky using tools like a compass and sextant?
The Mission Orienteer
What tool can help identify types of clouds in the GLOBE app?
Cloud Wizard
What does NASA compare our photos to, to study the contrails?
Satellite images and atmospheric data
What is the tool that helps us measure the height of a plane in the sky?
What kind of altitude reading should you use when multiple types are listed?
Barometric Altitude
What skill helps orienteer find direction using land features and maps?
Terrain Association
What are the three types of contrails?
Short-lived, persistent non-spreading, and persistent spreading
What is a geosynchronous satellite?
A satellite that stays over the same part of earth all the time.
What’s the importance of recording the azimuth and altitude angle?
So scientists can match the exact position of the plane in the photo