Sunday was a big day for BIT. Starting in the morning, a big team was in for pre-compatibility tests. Before we fly, we will need to show that all our things work, and that they are compatible with NASA’s electronics for communication and balloon control. Pre-compatibility is a trial run to check for any problems before the final test. Overall it went quite well. One slightly sad note is that the old and loved launch vehicle, Tiny Tim, has been replaced due to needing increasingly frequent repairs. The lifts were smooth, but lacked a certain je ne sais quoi.
After the tests, we had our first clear night in weeks. This gave us an opportunity to finally test the telescope and guidance systems with real stars. The afternoon was spent preparing, and then the late shift spent the night testing.
![Gondola outside Gondola outside • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26954590683/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7379/26954590683_7660b0fcce_m.jpg)
Gondola outside
Late shift (aka B team) arrived to see this.
![New Crane New Crane • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26954588093/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7413/26954588093_1d6e371044_m.jpg)
New Crane
Replacement for Tiny Tim, the old and much loved launch vehicle.
![Taking down the broken basketball backboard Taking down the broken basketball backboard • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27286417070/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7624/27286417070_dfda3fa49d_m.jpg)
Taking down the broken basketball backboard
Thus begins a little side project
![BIT on the move BIT on the move • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27528959836/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7117/27528959836_c22b4a88d8_m.jpg)
BIT on the move
Part of me is sad that it's not hanging from Tim. But this crane works very well.
![Hanging in the air Hanging in the air • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26954585193/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7167/26954585193_58c5df322c_m.jpg)
Hanging in the air
![Closer look at BIT Closer look at BIT • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27528954726/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7209/27528954726_c245a25693_m.jpg)
Closer look at BIT
![Poking at solar panel frame Poking at solar panel frame • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27528948596/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7287/27528948596_8be1cbe146_m.jpg)
Poking at solar panel frame
To test levels of floppiness
![Larry comes back in Larry comes back in • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26953557434/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7649/26953557434_291de1b356_m.jpg)
Larry comes back in
He's the safety officer, so has to put up with us a lot
![Guiding BIT back inside Guiding BIT back inside • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26953554514/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7341/26953554514_b88328012f_m.jpg)
Guiding BIT back inside
![Setting down on 4x4s. Setting down on 4x4s. • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26953552204/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7719/26953552204_8d0fe1d344_m.jpg)
Setting down on 4x4s.
So that the crane can be adjusted for going inside
![Reaching inside Reaching inside • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27528937356/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7079/27528937356_c3979cbe80_m.jpg)
Reaching inside
![Back inside Back inside • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26953548744/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7454/26953548744_f9d74ff94b_m.jpg)
Back inside
![Javier adjusts the final balance Javier adjusts the final balance • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/26953543574/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7326/26953543574_f88cec5098_m.jpg)
Javier adjusts the final balance
![Steven makes shiny covers for the port holes Steven makes shiny covers for the port holes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27528932486/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7389/27528932486_97b29d179d_m.jpg)
Steven makes shiny covers for the port holes
![Vy works on covering port holes too. Vy works on covering port holes too. • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27490653051/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7622/27490653051_b72874bdb7_m.jpg)
Vy works on covering port holes too.
![NASA water tower NASA water tower • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27528929086/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7528/27528929086_169d6280b5_m.jpg)
NASA water tower
As the sun sets
![Sunset Sunset • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27490648711/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7510/27490648711_9337478f92_m.jpg)
Sunset
Notice lack of clouds. We waited quite a while for such a night.
![Scanning inside the highbay Scanning inside the highbay • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27490648211/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7194/27490648211_cf5bdceee9_m.jpg)
Scanning inside the highbay
![Night shift. Night shift. • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/27464450142/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7518/27464450142_3133b0cc5e_m.jpg)
Night shift.
Gathered around the warm glow of monitors, while BIT points.
Leave a Reply