Yesterday, Team Cryo started filling Theo with liquid helium. This is where the operation is most “cryogenically interesting”, which is a euphemism for mysterious and scary. Things that you don’t fully understand (especially now with several more telescopes installed), but can potentially cause a lot of damage. At least they happen slowly, so that you have lots of time to get tired.
I’ve mostly been working on modifications to the flight computer box, with the help of Jamil and Ed. Due to somewhat high priority, I didn’t take as much time for photography as usual.
Sunset over the launchpad
With fresh bales of hay. I didn't make it back outside in time for the disc of the sun to remain up
New holes
Expertly cut in the computer box
Jamil cleans a computer
Removing metal shavings around new holes. Computers don't get along with metal shavings
Board mods
on the hidden underside of the computer watchdog
Helium
Refrigerated liquid
Jon inserts the fill tube into the dewar
Becky feels for venting gas at the other end
Low tech
Venting gas
And ice on the plumbing
Jon watches
Cryo people must be watchful
Flingle 3
The latest 3D-printed creation. Still awesome (Plus "Come and Take It")
Star camera baffles
Uncovered, so ineffective at blocking light, but much more interesting to look at
Bill waits for the fill tube to cool
On another helium fill later in the day
Becky works on the rotating polarized (microwave) source
Which will be a useful tool in the calibration work that will come up soon
Reassembled computer box
Now with slightly moved contents. And "speed holes". To make it "faster"
Long night
Science is: playing games while waiting for things to happen. After having been up all night waiting for things to happen
Sweet computer box. I see it is roomier than version one, probably a good thing. I’m glad the heat sinks are still working. All the best to you and the team.
Hi Steve,
You are amazing! Thank You for taking us with the team!
Ian! Good to see you browsing here. Version one was definitely smaller and lighter. But after dealing with one too many computer problems and disassemblies, we decided to sacrifice for the sake of convenience.
Thanks, Sue. You might give my mom serious competition for #1 fan.