Mega launch day mega post!
I start with some documentation of BLAST’s final flight configuration (which while a little boring is part of the reason people indulge my taking photos of everything). Then we go through our pre-launch preparations. Later, I’m allowed out to the flightline to document the assembly and inflation process there—much closer than I’d been before. Finally there is the launch itself, which went off cleanly.
A big thanks to the CSBF crew for all their hard work.
Under the telescope
Photobombed by Tyr
Under the "under the telescope"
aka the SIP
Anti-sun side
Featuring ACS crate, computer, and lead bricks for balance
The central nervous system of BLAST
Attitude Control System, and flight computers
The anti-sun pyramid
With elevation motor control, and roll side star tracker
Cookie Monsters
Plural
FInal inner frame balance
Note little brick hiding in top right
The eyes and optical nerve of BLAST
Inside the covered side
Batteries and solar charge controllers
Evil bunny heat sink
As seen through the window for plugging the solar panels in
Rear of the SIP
Pump hose
While we roll out, we still need to apply vacuum to the cryostat's pumped helim stage
Front of the towards-sun side
With mylar covering, and solar panel struts
Roll star camera
And elevation motor controller
All of BLAST, one last time
In the highbay that is...for at least this year...
Inner frame balance pump and lock pin
Antennas and pivot
The shutter, just in between telescope and cryostat
Taping on the last shiny triangle
Now that we don't need to access inside any more
Serial port hub
One more of ACS and computers
From the other side. I'm particularly attached to these things
Checklists
Gotta have checklists
Bags on electronics
For ascent through the atmosphere. And possibly out of superstition
More electronics bags
Signing BLAST
As a token of "So long, for now"
Final tape up. Need more tape
Group action shot
Elio signs
Balance bag
Everything a body needs
Rollout
Goodbye highbay
Tyr connects the solar power
Signatures
Tristan was napping after his schedule marathon, but got on at the last minute
Window taped
Now everything is taped for flight
White tape on sun sensor cables
Because balloon payloads need lots of white duct tape
FInal bagging
These ones were semi-final until some end-of-checklists steps were completed
Waiting
Obligatory hanging off The Boss shot
Yellow stands
For extra support while installing the ballast underneath
Final outer frame balance check
Obligatory The Boss plus BLAST plus highbay shot
I'm almost out of obligatory shots, the rest will be launch specific
Flight train laid down The Boss
Pump hose
Will be connected to a pump on The Boss until just before launch
Ballast hopper
Robin
On sun sensor perch
Parachute basket
On parachute basket sled
Another checkout
Make sure things are still okay while hanging
Spool sled
Very important
The spool
Taking BLAST for a walk
Launchpad, ho!
Piball
Presumably determining that the winds were good. Or maybe not quite good yet
Fantastic Pictures! Thank you very much! What a great event! Almost felt as if we were there.
This looks cool. (literarily and figuratively).
Steve! You’ve done it again! How would I know about the Robin, the bunny, the signatures, the bagging, the parachute basket, the final rainbow filling tubes, the fire in the balloon? 131 Thank Yous!
Elio! We’re very proud of you!!!! We love you so much and we wish you a wonderful new year!!!!
Elio you’re simply the best! We are very proud of you…
How do the Mega Passes work? We are going to the Georgia National Fair in Perry in October and we have a family of 4, 2 adtlus and 2 children ages 5 and 3. would we need to buy a separate mega pass for each of us? We were planning to come on a night for armbands but my husband is active duty Military and the only day we can come is 10/6 or 10/7 and we were looking for ways to save money and still let our kids have a nice time. do you know yet how many tickets on average each ride will require?