You must perform these preparations from 2 to 0 hours before the sounding balloon release. The following table shows the workflow included in preparing the radiosonde and OIF for a sounding with MW41 sounding software 45 minutes before the launch.
| Time to launch in minutes | Ozone sensor | Interface OIF | Radiosonde RS41 | Sounding software MW41 | Balloon and accessories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | Select battery type and any supplemental heat source needed, based on the previous flight’s performance. | Attach interface board to pump frame. | Attach radiosonde holder to styrofoam flight box. | Start MW41 software. | Fill the balloon and attach the detainer/unwinder/parachute. |
| 30 | Start running the ECC on ozone-free air using an external power supply for the pump motor. | Activate and condition radiosonde. | Configure software for the ozone flight. | ||
| 20 | Record background current. | Connect interface to RS41. | Record background current. | ||
| 15 | Connect battery to ozone sensor pump (activate battery if needed), and heater battery, if required. | Attach radiosonde to the flight box. | Prepare the radiosonde for flight. Put ECC into to flight box if it is not there yet (for prewarming in cold weather flights). | ||
| 10 | Take the ozonesonde construction outside to acclimatize and record surface ozone. | Check telemetry data. | Attach radiosonde to the balloon. | ||
| 0 | Check telemetry data. | Release the balloon. |