Data Collection

Contrail Data

The contrail-related data is at the core of this research project. For this mission, CAP volunteers will use a flight-following app to identify the tail number, type, and altitude of all aircraft they photograph.

For the photo portion of this research, teams will take a photo as the plane is crossing their field of vision. Then, they will take repeat photos of that same patch of sky 3, 5, 10, and 15 minutes after the plane has flown by. 

All contrail data and photos will be uploaded to NASA via the GLOBE Program's GLOBE Observer App (NASA's preferred data entry method) or post-mission using a computer via a data entry portal.

Weather Data

To provide context for the contrail data and photos we collect, NASA would also like weather data collected every 15 minutes throughout the observation period. This will involve taking photos of the sky to the north, east, south, west, and directly up, and submitting those photos via the GLOBE App. Mission weather officers will be responsible for identifying the cloud types that are currently in the sky and estimating cloud coverage. They will also calculate the percentage of cloud cover and look for evidence that will help them determine the wind direction at altitude.  

Impact Data

In addition to studying aviation weather, NASA and the GLOBE Observer team are interested in learning about this mission's impact on Civil Air Patrol volunteers.  To complete this research mission, participants will be asked to complete pre- and post-mission surveys. A limited number of teams will also have a NASA scientist visit/observe them during training or on the day of the mission.

Researchers hope to use this impact data to learn more about what makes CAP members such great citizen scientists and to collect information that can be used to help plan future CAP/NASA Missions. 

More information about the impact portion of this project and links to the pre- and post-mission surveys will be available by March 31, 2025.

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