(Backlog from the 3rd to 4th of November.)
With our cargo finally unpacked, and a large team all in place, we’re ready to work. We break up into several teams and work our asses off. (Continued ass-off working is my excuse for slowness in posting.) Several teams operate in parallel: preparing the vacuum vessel/cryostat (aka Theo), preparing SPIDER’s six telescope inserts, and building the gondola frame.
![Removing the cherry picker Removing the cherry picker • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15141687453/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5607/15141687453_1808768f72_m.jpg)
Removing the cherry picker
To free up valuable highbay space
![Cornhole boards used for science! Cornhole boards used for science! • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15575254049/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3951/15575254049_8ac95dab31_m.jpg)
Cornhole boards used for science!
Supporting the inner tube that lifts the bottom dome into place
![Opening the bottom dome Opening the bottom dome • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15759230051/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3943/15759230051_445fd44e95_m.jpg)
Opening the bottom dome
With Jon and Anne
![Ed prepared for top dome removal Ed prepared for top dome removal • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15575932547/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8269/15575932547_0f99390385_m.jpg)
Ed prepared for top dome removal
![Meanwhile, Jamil has been recruited to team insert Meanwhile, Jamil has been recruited to team insert • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15141685603/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3952/15141685603_5536c51179_m.jpg)
Meanwhile, Jamil has been recruited to team insert
He opens a telescope insert to prepare it for flight
![Anne performs the top dome magic Anne performs the top dome magic • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15762663042/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7499/15762663042_211e242f4b_m.jpg)
Anne performs the top dome magic
She is the master of this magic
![Nat operates the hoist Nat operates the hoist • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15575930447/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5611/15575930447_a528eff0b7_m.jpg)
Nat operates the hoist
![Top dome opening Top dome opening • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15141133404/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3952/15141133404_8ef0038370_m.jpg)
Top dome opening
![Top dome on its cart Top dome on its cart • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15762672872/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3946/15762672872_b236c5be3a_m.jpg)
Top dome on its cart
![Jon and the open bottom Jon and the open bottom • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15761101045/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3953/15761101045_7bb38a0421_m.jpg)
Jon and the open bottom
Showing the six telescope ports
![Opened telescopes Opened telescopes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15575678918/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7468/15575678918_676c9e9402_m.jpg)
Opened telescopes
![SPIDER hoodies SPIDER hoodies • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15762657852/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5604/15762657852_97ea60c1d9_m.jpg)
SPIDER hoodies
![Jamil fiddles with telescope prep Jamil fiddles with telescope prep • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15761098165/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3943/15761098165_6d3a9645fd_m.jpg)
Jamil fiddles with telescope prep
![Ed too Ed too • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15762651482/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7504/15762651482_8ea5c90448_m.jpg)
Ed too
![Insert land Insert land • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15575246459/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3938/15575246459_bb175fc56a_m.jpg)
Insert land
The area beneath the mezzanine is dedicated to telescope prep
![Anne fixes the tops of some telescopes Anne fixes the tops of some telescopes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15141123974/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7565/15141123974_0fbb76f535_m.jpg)
Anne fixes the tops of some telescopes
![Lorenzo examines a focal plane Lorenzo examines a focal plane • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15737375536/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5607/15737375536_a30b9ea300_m.jpg)
Lorenzo examines a focal plane
The shiny dark parts are our fancy supercondiucting detectors
![Meanwhile, gondola assembly starts Meanwhile, gondola assembly starts • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15575230639/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5613/15575230639_ca693c1065_m.jpg)
Meanwhile, gondola assembly starts
Seans helps build the cart
![Ivan too Ivan too • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15141675963/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3951/15141675963_b453c35d58_m.jpg)
Ivan too
![A complete telescope focal plane (top) and fridge (bottom) A complete telescope focal plane (top) and fridge (bottom) • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15761080855/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5607/15761080855_60df16a7b5_m.jpg)
A complete telescope focal plane (top) and fridge (bottom)
![Focal plane with optics in background Focal plane with optics in background • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15737372886/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7504/15737372886_7d195d4a71_m.jpg)
Focal plane with optics in background
![Barth Barth's horrible chair • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15761079525/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5607/15761079525_33b30fa89e_m.jpg)
Barth's horrible chair
Specially shipped for his comfort
![Colourful wiring Colourful wiring • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15575658608/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3944/15575658608_f18c7c9464_m.jpg)
Colourful wiring
In telescope insert
![Ivan triumphs over Sean in arm wrestling Ivan triumphs over Sean in arm wrestling • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15141657573/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7580/15141657573_f13c36ea34_m.jpg)
Ivan triumphs over Sean in arm wrestling
In the battle of the "Johns"
![Anne makes a helium membrane to seal the the telescopes Anne makes a helium membrane to seal the the telescopes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15575224869/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7491/15575224869_bbb567e22a_m.jpg)
Anne makes a helium membrane to seal the the telescopes
![Gondola assembly Gondola assembly • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15762634322/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7559/15762634322_762cf1a650_m.jpg)
Gondola assembly
![Obligatory Joseph photo Obligatory Joseph photo • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15737367536/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7524/15737367536_a6ba5117ac_m.jpg)
Obligatory Joseph photo
He had recenty showed up
![Bottom preparations Bottom preparations • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15575226719/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5612/15575226719_5c4b04974a_m.jpg)
Bottom preparations
WIth SPIDER sweater
![SPIDER shoes SPIDER shoes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15762625592/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5611/15762625592_11a14d4552_m.jpg)
SPIDER shoes
Jamil wins
![Installing the reaction wheel Installing the reaction wheel • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15576264020/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7510/15576264020_a11d10b550_m.jpg)
Installing the reaction wheel
![Lorenzo shows where to photograph Lorenzo shows where to photograph • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15575892757/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3939/15575892757_b7e7ebf9c4_m.jpg)
Lorenzo shows where to photograph
As I document the finished focal planes before they get covered by telescope optics
![A bug in the vacuum vessel A bug in the vacuum vessel • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15141645533/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3950/15141645533_3250438cef_m.jpg)
A bug in the vacuum vessel
Presumably its been there a while
![Sasha examines a focalplane Sasha examines a focalplane • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15761063245/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3940/15761063245_12a196fb9d_m.jpg)
Sasha examines a focalplane
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