Gypsy Camp

From Paul Newman, co-project scientist:

All of the GloPac instrument teams have now arrived at Dryden Flight Research Center, and our  integration of instruments onto the Global Hawk UAS continues.  We’re putting 10  instruments on the plane, and each team has 2 to 3 scientists working on their instrument.

This means we have a lot of  scientists bunched around the airplane. The instrument teams are all  located alongside the Global Hawk in the hangar.  It’s a very spacious  hangar and the lab tables are great (internet connected, and plenty of  power), but it is loud and cold when the hangar door is opened.

Usually it’s just the Global Hawk crew in the hangar, so this group of
25 scientists camped around lab tables has the appearance of a gypsy
camp.  Instruments, tools, computers, bicycles, food, and clothes are
piled into the instrument area.  I’ll  bet the crew wouldn’t be surprised if someone pulled out a mandolin  and started playing.

After working in this area for a few days, the “cubicle farm offices” back home will begin to look palatial.