Flight Reports EPOCH: NASA Hurricane Training Mission Logs

NASA's EPOCH project created this set of flight reports to train young scientists in planning and executing a major airborne science campaign. The logs document flight number, purpose, and hours from a 2017 field program targeting tropical cyclone formation in the Eastern Pacific. It serves as a dual-purpose record of operational flight data and a case study for leadership development in atmospheric science.

Use Cases

• Analyzing flight patterns and operational hours for airborne hurricane research campaigns.
• Studying the structure and documentation of NASA training programs for early-career scientists.
• Reviewing mission objectives and execution for specific flights during the 2017 Eastern Pacific hurricane season.

Strengths

• Provides a documented case study from a specific NASA training program (EPOCH).
• Covers a defined and complete field campaign period from July 27 to August 31, 2017.
• Available on multiple authoritative platforms (Data.gov, NASA Earthdata), indicating curation.

Limitations

• Core data columns (flight number, purpose, hours) are described but the exact column names and structure are unknown.
• Primary files are in PDF format, which may hinder automated analysis compared to structured formats.
• Metadata conflicts exist: the 'last updated' date differs significantly between platforms (2017 vs. 2026).

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Logged during the East Pacific Origins and Characteristics of Hurricanes (EPOCH) airborne science field program.

Time Range

July 27, 2017 through August 31, 2017

Freshness

2026-04-10 03:18:10.315984

Geography

Eastern Pacific Ocean region relevant to hurricane formation.