Since I’m back after a short absence from the field, I should catch up on posting old photos from before I left.
The main work on the telescope was assembling the optics box and preparing for focusing/alignment tests. While that goes on, others have been working on gondola assembly. The local Texans installed their electronics, the SIP (support instrumentation package).
After a long initial week of work, most of us took some time to visit the Caldwell Zoo nearby.
![Filter wheel and main camera Filter wheel and main camera • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26931901410/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7223/26931901410_60252b6fa3_m.jpg)
Filter wheel and main camera
![Neatened up wires Neatened up wires • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26601894283/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7292/26601894283_f238acd3b9_m.jpg)
Neatened up wires
Neat cable routing makes me happy
![The fine guidance system: the tip-tilt mirror and a focus actuator for the tracking camera The fine guidance system: the tip-tilt mirror and a focus actuator for the tracking camera • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26601892473/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7744/26601892473_3aedb6df12_m.jpg)
The fine guidance system: the tip-tilt mirror and a focus actuator for the tracking camera
![Installing the fine guidance camera Installing the fine guidance camera • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26601890013/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7169/26601890013_dc430d9b9e_m.jpg)
Installing the fine guidance camera
![Fully assembled box Fully assembled box • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26931892850/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7460/26931892850_348f6d5fa1_m.jpg)
Fully assembled box
![Leeav builds another box. For the batteries. Leeav builds another box. For the batteries. • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26931896700/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7029/26931896700_abc5965dba_m.jpg)
Leeav builds another box. For the batteries.
![Two telescopes. The main one on the right, and the collimator telescope to make a fake star Two telescopes. The main one on the right, and the collimator telescope to make a fake star • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27207000815/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7379/27207000815_32e5490d23_m.jpg)
Two telescopes. The main one on the right, and the collimator telescope to make a fake star
![John models with the telescope John models with the telescope • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26931888870/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7229/26931888870_31444a06a4_m.jpg)
John models with the telescope
![The telescope The telescope • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27138087011/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7355/27138087011_ec6da1c201_m.jpg)
The telescope
![Installing the (bottom half of) the inner frame into the middle frame Installing the (bottom half of) the inner frame into the middle frame • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26931883990/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7386/26931883990_c4d3732a5f_m.jpg)
Installing the (bottom half of) the inner frame into the middle frame
Most of what you see is the black baffle that surrounds the telescope
![Installed inner frame. The middle frame, like the outer frame, looks like a boat Installed inner frame. The middle frame, like the outer frame, looks like a boat • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27138083361/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7360/27138083361_d488a44e6f_m.jpg)
Installed inner frame. The middle frame, like the outer frame, looks like a boat
![Test fitting the battery box Test fitting the battery box • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26601879593/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7547/26601879593_d906c6f8c5_m.jpg)
Test fitting the battery box
![Assorted parrots act as greeters at the zoo Assorted parrots act as greeters at the zoo • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26601874243/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7034/26601874243_663d7e781f_m.jpg)
Assorted parrots act as greeters at the zoo
Noisy greeters
![Some birds. Oh, and Ivan. Some birds. Oh, and Ivan. • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27138079491/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7585/27138079491_05828152c8_m.jpg)
Some birds. Oh, and Ivan.
![People with phones photographing weird animals People with phones photographing weird animals • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27138075461/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7785/27138075461_67cd3cd005_m.jpg)
People with phones photographing weird animals
This happened a lot
![Eagles with no cage Eagles with no cage • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26601868543/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7088/26601868543_7881a7576a_m.jpg)
Eagles with no cage
![I ended up with as many photographs of animals I ended up with as many photographs of animals • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26931860310/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7594/26931860310_370b3d5242_m.jpg)
I ended up with as many photographs of animals
I think there's a bear or something behind them.
![Pelicans being fed Pelicans being fed • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27110561362/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7594/27110561362_b39a406ee4_m.jpg)
Pelicans being fed
![The CIP arrives The CIP arrives • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26931852520/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7730/26931852520_92226d9769_m.jpg)
The CIP arrives
This is NASA's electronics to support our flight
![Our flight engineer: Dell. Our flight engineer: Dell. • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27110558452/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7215/27110558452_0c4c69e952_m.jpg)
Our flight engineer: Dell.
![Inspecting the CIP Inspecting the CIP • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26931848330/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7348/26931848330_8603d547b7_m.jpg)
Inspecting the CIP
People try to figure out the balance
![Installation by lifting the outer frame over top. Installation by lifting the outer frame over top. • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27110554872/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7186/27110554872_6eec4be544_m.jpg)
Installation by lifting the outer frame over top.
![Yellow safety stands Yellow safety stands • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27206953545/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7321/27206953545_24b1dc1fce_m.jpg)
Yellow safety stands
For safety
![Wrestling into place Wrestling into place • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27110550742/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7122/27110550742_5c329237ee_m.jpg)
Wrestling into place
![New mirror cell New mirror cell • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27206945965/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7339/27206945965_5092ddc07f_m.jpg)
New mirror cell
This supports the collimator mirror, but spreads force evenly to prevent it from deforming
![Rotary/tilt stage to aim the collimator Rotary/tilt stage to aim the collimator • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27110546542/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7312/27110546542_18c25b1f41_m.jpg)
Rotary/tilt stage to aim the collimator
![Thermal speculation Thermal speculation • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27110543492/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7533/27110543492_19f9e191ce_m.jpg)
Thermal speculation
One of the boxes (tip-tilt mirror controller) feels warm. This concerns people as it's hard to cool down in the stratosphere
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