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Which
aircraft were participating in 1999?
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FISTA is a modified NKC135-E aircraft. It has 20
upward-looking window ports oriented at different
angles for maximum coverage of the sky. Main instruments
are near-Infrared and mid-Infrared spectrometers of
Aerospace Corporation and AFRL. Infrared sensors detect
the comparative heat of objects. Spectrometers take the
light appart in its colors. FISTA also carries a
compliment of visible and ultra-violet spectrometers and
imagers of other researchers for a total of 10
experiments.This US Air Force aircraft is operated by
the 452nd Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB. The
aircraft is named FISTA, for Flying
Infrared Signature Technology Aircraft.
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ARIA is a Boeing 707 aircraft equipped with a
telemetry antenna dish in the nose of the aircraft and 4
optical windows on the left side of the aircraft in the
front observing deck. Four more windows will be
installed on the right side of the aircraft to faciliate
spectroscopic and imaging instruments. near-UV and
visible spectrographs will search for the signature of
organic matter. Two windows are used for flux
measurements which will be reported while the mission
unfolds. The dish will be used for a live uplink with
TDRSS. Moreover, ARIA has four INMARSAT communication
channels for internet and voice mail uplink. ARIA stands
for Advanced Ranging and Instrumentation Aircraft. The
aircraft is operated by the 452nd Flight Test Squadron
at Edwards AFB.
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The
C-130 ADVON
The
102nd Resque
Squadron (New York Air National Guard, Westhampton Beach,
New York) provides airlift support for parts and emergency
repair capability for the FISTA and ARIA aircraft. They also
provide a global command and control platform for mission
coordination. They are ADVON, our advance party which flies
during daytime and make arrangements for our arrival and
expedite the processes of refueling, calibration, and
servicing of our aircraft.
The 106th Resque Wing (of which the 102nd is part) operates
and maintains the only rescue aircraft in the Northeastern
United States designed for aerial refueling. The HC-130
"Hercules" is operated by a six member crew and is configured
for both air to air refueling and search duties. With a long
range flying capability, the HC-130P is often used for
over-water search and rescue missions; from the Azores to
Bahamas. This includes astronaut rescue contingency for
aborted space shuttle launches.
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