(Backlog from November 7-8)
With all the telescope inserts installed, the bottom of Theo (our vacuum vessel/cryostat) is ready to close. On the top side, the half-wave plates need to be installed in their rotation mechanisms above the inserts. Then closing proceeds there as well.
To keep Theo cold, progressively colder nested layers of vapour-cooled shield are used. These get cooled by the vapour from boiling liquid helium (the vapour is still very cold), and are separated by vacuum and shiny multi-layer insulation. Installing the shield close-outs and insulation takes a lot of long and somewhat tedious labour. Plus lots of tape. The job was finished by a small team on the following day, while the rest of us took a Sunday off.
![Majestic Natalie Majestic Natalie • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15760376046/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7574/15760376046_2cc3f1ba07_m.jpg)
Majestic Natalie
![Bandit Bill Bandit Bill • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15782193981/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8138/15782193981_48bc9937a5_m.jpg)
Bandit Bill
He's cleaning epoxy out the the separated gondola tube
![All six telescopes installed All six telescopes installed • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15164112644/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5615/15164112644_ce2f320b18_m.jpg)
All six telescopes installed
Seen from below, with heat straps and electrical cables
![Sean Sean • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15782191951/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5610/15782191951_ee3cb8b454_m.jpg)
Sean
I have no recollection of what he's trying to communicate
![Ed tapes up filters at the bottom of a vacuum window Ed tapes up filters at the bottom of a vacuum window • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15784056145/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5613/15784056145_94defbe193_m.jpg)
Ed tapes up filters at the bottom of a vacuum window
![Johanna works on the top side Johanna works on the top side • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15599243700/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7509/15599243700_554fb346b3_m.jpg)
Johanna works on the top side
Primarily testing half-wave plate rotation mechanisms
![Anne closes up the bottom Anne closes up the bottom • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15164109504/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5604/15164109504_81b5964f3d_m.jpg)
Anne closes up the bottom
This is one of two vapour-cooled shield layers (from formerly liquid helium) that keep SPIDER cold
![Sasha prepares filters Sasha prepares filters • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15784055325/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5604/15784055325_8976f58da5_m.jpg)
Sasha prepares filters
Each VCS layer has filters on the business end of the telescope
![Jamil and John balance the reaction wheel Jamil and John balance the reaction wheel • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15164108814/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7534/15164108814_21394d988c_m.jpg)
Jamil and John balance the reaction wheel
![Half-wave plate installation Half-wave plate installation • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15164107874/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7550/15164107874_8a5c06f9fb_m.jpg)
Half-wave plate installation
With Sean and Johanna
![More bottom closing More bottom closing • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15784054705/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7583/15784054705_23fda44119_m.jpg)
More bottom closing
It's a long and tedious process
![Ziggy rocking his overalls Ziggy rocking his overalls • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15599240940/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5604/15599240940_d2695f8be7_m.jpg)
Ziggy rocking his overalls
As he test fits filters with top-dome insulation
![John and the half-wave plates John and the half-wave plates • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15164107614/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7477/15164107614_faf2c2821e_m.jpg)
John and the half-wave plates
All the HWP people pose with their work, before it gets covered
![Sean Sean's turn • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15164617583/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7514/15164617583_989f82d776_m.jpg)
Sean's turn
![And Johanna And Johanna • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15760370146/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8130/15760370146_b8a0016790_m.jpg)
And Johanna
![John takes photos, and sets up a timelapse video John takes photos, and sets up a timelapse video • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15598229719/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5612/15598229719_ea223fe399_m.jpg)
John takes photos, and sets up a timelapse video
![Cynthia and her SPIDER shirt Cynthia and her SPIDER shirt • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15598229689/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8269/15598229689_8516d8be48_m.jpg)
Cynthia and her SPIDER shirt
On the bottom
![Sean (and I) test HWP rotators, with a temporary electronics setup Sean (and I) test HWP rotators, with a temporary electronics setup • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15784051025/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8604/15784051025_89704189ce_m.jpg)
Sean (and I) test HWP rotators, with a temporary electronics setup
![Ed attaches windows to the top dome Ed attaches windows to the top dome • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15760367856/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7572/15760367856_10a2cb6cec_m.jpg)
Ed attaches windows to the top dome
![Anne modifies multi-layer insulation Anne modifies multi-layer insulation • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15598227999/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5605/15598227999_37db4b0720_m.jpg)
Anne modifies multi-layer insulation
It's new and lacks attachment holes
![So many KF clamps So many KF clamps • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15598227069/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8582/15598227069_30b0277e17_m.jpg)
So many KF clamps
![The tube The tube • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15598892437/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8612/15598892437_6eb7b885a2_m.jpg)
The tube
Down SPiDER's unused center port
![Completed top side Completed top side • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15782367081/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8580/15782367081_7b33716b0e_m.jpg)
Completed top side
(Except the center port is not yet covered)
![Team ladder: Sasha and Lorenzo Team ladder: Sasha and Lorenzo • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15599234420/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7557/15599234420_5d190cfe72_m.jpg)
Team ladder: Sasha and Lorenzo
Closing the top. For which Lorenzo's tall-person powers are useful
![Cynthia and shininess Cynthia and shininess • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15164101184/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7490/15164101184_f1839b7dfd_m.jpg)
Cynthia and shininess
![Mega group action shot Mega group action shot • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15164100054/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7583/15164100054_e70470d76a_m.jpg)
Mega group action shot
![Ed tapes Ed tapes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15760363156/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8576/15760363156_9d4e3df163_m.jpg)
Ed tapes
Lots of tape is needed to close up the VCS layers
![Lorenzo and Sasha Lorenzo and Sasha • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15164609443/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7522/15164609443_0eb9407810_m.jpg)
Lorenzo and Sasha
![Anne too Anne too • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15784044945/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm9.static.flickr.com/8118/15784044945_8576229d06_m.jpg)
Anne too
![Bill oversees Bill oversees • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15598220679/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7466/15598220679_3bf85e8dc1_m.jpg)
Bill oversees
From the mezzanine
![Finishing up Finishing up • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15599229870/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7485/15599229870_567df4cf03_m.jpg)
Finishing up
At the end of the day
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