On Monday (Eastern)/Tuesday (Australia), Scott Glenn and Chip Haldeman arrived in Perth Australia for a long week of prep work for Challenger’s next mission: to circumnavigate the Indian Ocean. The plan is to take 29 and fly from Perth to Sri Lanka passing by Indonesia; Then Sri Lanka to South Africa passing by Reunion Island; and then making the return trip from South Africa to Perth over the next few years.
Throughout the week, Chip and Scott will work with KK and Dennis to make final adjustments on ballast before the planned deployment Thursday evening
KK and Dennis in front of their new data display wall
Chip Installs the new thruster on RU29
The flags of each nation involved with the mission are stored inside of the glider for the duration of the flight
An official NOAA Challenger Coin given to the Challenger Mission by Dr. Kathryn Sullivan is also mounted on the inside of the glider
Force Wind Sea & Honor