Yesterday we installed the Side-Scoop of Joy, now that there’s enough free space in the highbay. This is a large sun shield structure mounted around the telescope; the joy is due to it allowing us to observe desirable regions, which during the Antarctic summer are very close to the sun. Because this makes the mirror much less accessible, some last mirror touch-ups were conducted first.
Plus, the mirror and scoop are both shiny. Today has a shiny theme.
BLASTPol
Mark cleans the mirror
The plug removed, cryostat window visible
Shutter closed
Because both are white, this doesn't look a lot different than the window
Reinstalling the plug
Using the patented reaching rod also useful for star camera covers
The cleaned telescope
In profile, slightly
The Side Scoop of Joy
Giant mylar-covered carbon fiber structure that lets us observe very close to the sun
Lifting the scoop
It's not very heavy, but it is somewhat unwieldy
Barth guides from the mezzanine
Tyr guides from the ground
With a tag line
Elio prepares to guide in front of the telescope
Getting closer
Slowly manouvering the side scoop into place
Mostly there
Wrestling into place
These bolts are tricky
Using "The Convincer"
To try to line up a particularly tricky set of bolts
NCCASD
After some slight damage had weakened it, BLAST made short work of destroying the anti-spin device rigged up for the hoist
NCCASD Mk. 2
Steve, I love your word descriptions! : )