A couple weeks ago, SPIDER was mostly operational, but nowhere near ready to fly. Since then, we have discovered and resolved two major issues: with excess detector noise, and with funny behaviour of the pivot motor at the top of the payload. I have spent a blur of night shifts conducting tests, performing repairs, and shinifying/sun protecting many of SPIDER’s surfaces.
Also included below is an animation from Christmas Morning of SPIDER scanning.
SPIDER scanning
Mostly operational, but far from ready to fly
More scanning
With sun shield frame
On the following day
Pivot testing
Featuring a pulley
Ivan and I remake the pivot controller box
Day shift breaks things, night shift fixes them
Remade box
Before its foam cver
Not-so-rigorous testing
Solar panel checks
So many panels
Wall of power
The best panels are chosen for SPIDER
Wiring up the wall of power
Taking a brief break
And a nap later
Hard hat rainbow
Though I couldn't find a purple one...
Fata Morgana
Opposite of a conventional mirage, causes elongated-seeming structures. Like this huge Scott Base
From Christmas Eve scanning
With almost-complete sun shields, including asymmetric wing
Johanna finalizes the telescope baffles
Finally with complete telescopes
No longer covered by aluminum plates
Fully armed and operational battle station
[image title=”” size=”full” id=”6462″ align=”center” alt=”SPIDER Scanning GIF” ]
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