Pioneer MAB Test Deployment
Voulgaris Visit
Chief Scientist Al Plueddemann describes OOI equipment on the deck of the Armstrong during a visit by NSF Program Director George Voulgaris (right). The equipment was prepared for deployment as a part of engineering tests for the MAB Pioneer Array. Details about instrumentation and electronics were provided by OOI team members (left to right) John…
Read MoreMoving Quickly
The mobilization of the Pioneer MAB test moorings is moving quickly thanks to the expertise of the OOI-CGSN team, the crew of the Armstrong, and the support of the dockyard. The buoy builds are complete and the profiler and surface buoys were moved to the ship.
Read MoreAssembly Complete
Jim Ryder and Kris Newhall complete assembly of At-Sea Test 3 surface buoy to be deployed at new Pioneer Mid-Atlantic Bight location this month. The test moorings will confirm the design of the systems to be implemented within the new array in Spring 2024.
Read MoreWell and Tower Preparations
The OOI-CGSN team members Alex Franks and Jared Schwartz, with dockyard support, prepare the At-Sea Test 3 surface mooring well and tower for integration into the buoy.
Read MoreMoving Parts
The RV Neil Armstrong crew move the buoy frame and buoyancy foam for the At-Sea Test 3 surface mooring from the ship to the dock in Charleston, SC. At-Sea Test 3 is the deployment of test moorings at the new OOI Pioneer Mid-Atlantic Bight location.
Read MoreDouble Duty
Doing two things at once. The R/V Neil Armstrong is in a Charleston, SC drydock for inspection and also supporting the mobilization of the At-Sea Test 3 surface and profiler buoys for OOI-CGSN.
Read MoreHull Inspection
The R/V Neil Armstrong in dry-dock for hull inspection prior to departing for the Pioneer MAB test cruise. Shipyard workers, crew, and the science party are able to access the ship for preparations.
Read MoreCoastal Pioneer Array MAB
Schematic drawing of the Pioneer Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) moored array to be deployed off the coast of Nags Head, North Carolina. The full array, to be deployed in the spring of 2024, will consist of ten moorings at seven different sites (three sites contain mooring pairs). For the test deployment, one Coastal Surface Mooring will…
Read MoreR/V Neil Armstrong
The R/V Neil Armstrong is a state-of-the-art oceangoing research vessel. The ship is 238 feet long, can sustain speeds of 10 knots, has a range of 11,500 nautical miles, and can remain at sea for up to 40 days. Named for the American hero whose “small step” provided humanity with a new perspective on our planet, this vessel carries on its namesake’s legacy of exploration.
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