Yesterday I took more pictures of people doing random jobs buttoning up the gondola. We started the day with a cryogen transfer and final balancing of the inner frame. Then more things were made to be shiny, cables were all checked for tight connections, and we generally prepared to be completely mechanically ready for flight.
When the gondola isn’t swarming with people it’s hanging and doing scan tests, so that Tristan has solid scan time numbers for scheduling. I wish I could express in words or pictures how awesome it is to watch BLAST scan. I don’t think I can do it justice. Certainly stills of scanning aren’t very worthwhile.
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- Elio and Matt prepare for the nitrogen transfer
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- Elio has a snow school tan (one and a half days of non-stop bright sunlight, with the antarctic ozone hole)
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- Mark sticks his head up through a part of the chin that will eventually be filled
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- Blue foam battery box, just behind the ACS
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- Natalie finishes covering the SBSC in foam and mylar
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- Matt opens the helium tank
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- Lorenzo ensures every cable is tightly screwed into the ACSBOB
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- While the gondola is unscannable, Barth, Laura, and Tristan discuss target selection
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- The ACS and computer, and mylar filling in the view of the ground (to block albedo)
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- Because the star cameras poke out a bit, one bit of shielding needs pockets for them
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- Elio works on expanding and covering the pockets
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- I set up the fake sun, to trick the gondola for a late night of scan tests
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- Fake sun up close. Really bright, and pretty hot
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- It shines on one of the sun sensors
Steve it would be nice if you could post a picture of the finalized version of the sunshields and the thing that are covered so I can keep track of it on the thermal model. Thanks!
Juan, I meant to do that last night, but was too tired and forgot. I will try today to tour around looking at the sun shields.