Yesterday we successfully conducted out pre-flight compatibility test! This means attaching everything that will fly: all of CSBF’s little sensors, and the flight train, parachute, terminate package, etc. Then we hang off The Boss and drive a little away from the highbay so that radio signals are cleaner. While it hangs there for a few hours, we pretend it’s flying and make sure that everything works as expected. And, it turns out, things worked as expected.
Now, after a little more arts and crafts and touching up, we will be ready to fly. However, EBEX will fly before us, and we will not launch before the 20th. So, we will have a while to practice and test before launch.
![Step one: out to the deck Step one: out to the deck • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273867316/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8486/8273867316_c368f92f95_m.jpg)
Step one: out to the deck
Featuring Tristan
![Climbing up the back Climbing up the back • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8272800401/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8198/8272800401_94e11f845d_m.jpg)
Climbing up the back
To switch from the crane to The Boss
![Electronics team waits for their turn Electronics team waits for their turn • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273869788/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8083/8273869788_e2574f6aba_m.jpg)
Electronics team waits for their turn
![The Boss picks us up The Boss picks us up • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273870906/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8060/8273870906_cf715c0d35_m.jpg)
The Boss picks us up
![The Boss The Boss • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273871520/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8362/8273871520_a551ed8bd7_m.jpg)
The Boss
The flight-train is fully laid out, with the spool hanging off the back
![Pylons Pylons • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8272803437/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8211/8272803437_51b686d7e4_m.jpg)
Pylons
Mark the Danger Zone
![Steadying during liftoff Steadying during liftoff • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273873676/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8361/8273873676_962428842f_m.jpg)
Steadying during liftoff
![Pulling on BLAST Pulling on BLAST's leash • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273874676/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8497/8273874676_ac00708d18_m.jpg)
Pulling on BLAST's leash
![Coffee time Coffee time • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8272806559/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8211/8272806559_31b544552d_m.jpg)
Coffee time
![Unplugged cable Unplugged cable • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273876486/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8355/8273876486_6dab34f9a5_m.jpg)
Unplugged cable
Temporary source of commanding troubles
![Compatiblilty tests happening Compatiblilty tests happening • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8272808443/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8081/8272808443_d7dfc3c5b7_m.jpg)
Compatiblilty tests happening
Can you see it?
![Solar panels, and infrared sensor Solar panels, and infrared sensor • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273877368/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8482/8273877368_e842634ee5_m.jpg)
Solar panels, and infrared sensor
All the extra things that CSBF will fly are attached
![Ballast hopper Ballast hopper • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8272809273/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8345/8272809273_f556fcb81c_m.jpg)
Ballast hopper
The semi-namesake of the blog
![Back of the electronics cart Back of the electronics cart • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8272809711/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8345/8272809711_0a4468e0e4_m.jpg)
Back of the electronics cart
With all the basics a tech needs
![Tattered Jolly Roger Tattered Jolly Roger • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273879118/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8354/8273879118_44a9651c0a_m.jpg)
Tattered Jolly Roger
Flown by the electronics cart. In defiance of maritime decency
![Mylar self-portrait Mylar self-portrait • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273879942/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8058/8273879942_e5a2b8fcd6_m.jpg)
Mylar self-portrait
BLAST is so shiny that I just can't resist
![BLAST from many angles BLAST from many angles • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273881142/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8199/8273881142_55029c9350_m.jpg)
BLAST from many angles
The sun side: solar panels and shiny stuff
![BLAST from many angles BLAST from many angles • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273882680/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8339/8273882680_eaa324fe33_m.jpg)
BLAST from many angles
Slighlty-less sun side. The few places where it isn't shiny just aren't filled in yet
![BLAST from many angles BLAST from many angles • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273883862/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8063/8273883862_309dbcee5b_m.jpg)
BLAST from many angles
The anti-sun side. Uncovered so that things can cool
![BLAST from many angles BLAST from many angles • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8272816347/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8219/8272816347_c9623293ef_m.jpg)
BLAST from many angles
The sun-better-not-get-here side. Otherwise it might be able to see into the scoop
![Parachute box, etc. Parachute box, etc. • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8272816877/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8223/8272816877_29db3204d1_m.jpg)
Parachute box, etc.
Every single thing is tested
![Coloured boxes Coloured boxes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8272817335/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8204/8272817335_475531fc43_m.jpg)
Coloured boxes
The landscape is very interesting today
![Pre-flight compatibility panorama Pre-flight compatibility panorama • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273888266/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8360/8273888266_98c5477545_m.jpg)
Pre-flight compatibility panorama
Because the landscape was so interesting
![One more of BLAST, before coming inside One more of BLAST, before coming inside • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273889062/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8491/8273889062_0bbb862363_m.jpg)
One more of BLAST, before coming inside
![Lead bricks Lead bricks • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8273890558/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8218/8273890558_9abf164151_m.jpg)
Lead bricks
"Final" balance configuration
![Weigh-in Weigh-in • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8272821969/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8491/8272821969_deda013614_m.jpg)
Weigh-in
4265lbs. 200lbs lighter than last time.
great pictures! Thank you
Everything looks smaller after I saw the EBEX pictures.
Looking good guys!