With the gondola pretty much finished, we’ve switched to running tests and practicing for flight. A couple days ago, this also meant getting our official snowmobile training, for trips out to the launch pad. A little joyriding made everybody a little more joyful.
![Timelapse testing Tristan Timelapse testing Tristan • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8300679553/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8494/8300679553_585a32e8a8_m.jpg)
Timelapse testing Tristan
![WIth hand warmers and balaclava WIth hand warmers and balaclava • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8300680193/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8224/8300680193_1243f837a8_m.jpg)
WIth hand warmers and balaclava
![Stack of connector pins Stack of connector pins • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8301733748/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8219/8301733748_cf9f7c59a2_m.jpg)
Stack of connector pins
Mark made this far longer than I expected. Can you tell we're not all busy all the time anymore?
![Robin Robin • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8300682193/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8080/8300682193_8c7d7e0fb1_m.jpg)
Robin
Sunburned from last flight, now perched in the open
![Magic Card mementos Magic Card mementos • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8301736560/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8075/8301736560_9d5ce232f9_m.jpg)
Magic Card mementos
Like ballooning, "Kitesailing is a way of life&mdashand without practice, the end of it."
![The cards will fly The cards will fly • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8300684983/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8071/8300684983_331aa9e1b0_m.jpg)
The cards will fly
Because, why have a souvenir that hasn't been in the stratosphere?
![Going outside Going outside • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8301738374/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8224/8301738374_f15fb6cbd5_m.jpg)
Going outside
![Yes! We fit with the solar panels extended Yes! We fit with the solar panels extended • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8301739384/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8218/8301739384_ae906fe5fc_m.jpg)
Yes! We fit with the solar panels extended
This will save some hassle on launch rollouts
![Natalie Natalie • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8300688757/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8082/8300688757_3e38113150_m.jpg)
Natalie
Being a NASA cetified crane operator
![With the doors open, it With the doors open, it's a little cold • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8301743066/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8491/8301743066_dd101b51f9_m.jpg)
With the doors open, it's a little cold
![Still a little cold Still a little cold • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8300691397/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8354/8300691397_cd27c1746f_m.jpg)
Still a little cold
![Box head Box head • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8301744968/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8083/8301744968_30c1efe7a2_m.jpg)
Box head
Protesting some of the music in the highbay. A very contentious issue
![Snowmobile training Snowmobile training • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8300693365/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8081/8300693365_417fdf7a81_m.jpg)
Snowmobile training
With Scott
![BLAST stickers BLAST stickers • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8301746860/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8356/8301746860_283f745cbd_m.jpg)
BLAST stickers
On all the snowmobiles
![Vic winds up Vic winds up • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8301747906/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8215/8301747906_afbb2fab41_m.jpg)
Vic winds up
![And launches a snow attack And launches a snow attack • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8301748792/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8504/8301748792_4c27f34a08_m.jpg)
And launches a snow attack
![Mark returns Mark returns • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8300697143/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8356/8300697143_b98c13d6c5_m.jpg)
Mark returns
From his joyride around the launch pad
![Barth Barth • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/8300698547/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8361/8300698547_1947703261_m.jpg)
Barth
Seems to have enjoyed his ride
Leave a Reply