OIB was planning to attempt a night mission over sea ice to underfly an IceSat2 orbit tonight.
Unfortunately weather in the Weddell Sea deteriorated, and in addition, a regional trucker’s strike was blocking passage of fuel tankers to Punta Arenas. As this impacted the DC8 aircraft fuel supply, OIB could not fly the mission this evening.*
We’ve heard that the trucker strike has been resolved and there is a good likelihood that we can get fuel tomorrow. Additionally the weather forecast in the Weddell Sea under tomorrow night’s satellite orbit is good.
Back in the skies tomorrow we hope!
*OIB endured a similar trucker’s strike in 2009, impacting operations for several days.