On the Eve of Canada Day 2016 (ie last year….these photos have been sitting unloved on my computer for a while), SuperBIT launched for its overnight test flight.
Now that SuperBIT is approaching flight readiness for another flight, it’s about damn time I posted these.
Like all launch days, it was full of frantic work, waiting, excitement, and dread. Then it launches and there is no longer anything you can do except send commands on a computer and hope everything works. There is a brief rest during ascent, in preparation for working all through the night once the a balloon reaches float altitude.
Launch vehicle arrives
The riggers are ready
SuperBIT is also ready
Big Bill has big wheel
Plus one on the other side too!
SuperBIT and Big Bill together
Rolling out of the highbay
SuperBIT outside
With yellow safety stands
Swinging around away from the highbay
Mathew and Bill gesture importantly
Big Bill in profile
Curtis driving
Tending to electronic and suspension cables on top
Switching to the launch hook
For launching!
Installing the ballast hopper
Installing "solar panels"
There's no charging this flight, but we want to test that the presence of panels is okay
Bill pokes the experiment with a stick
I don't recall why, but I assure you that this was vitally important
On the move
Driving away
Down towards the launch pad
Keeping SuperBIT on a tight leash
Through the gate
Arriving at the launch pad
Helium tanker
And the balloon spool in the background
Laying out parachute and flight train
Balloon setup hidden behind trees
Mathew rides the cherry picker to remove lens caps
Start of inflation
Letting the balloon go
Inflation continues
With ghostbustery helium stream guns
John returns from hours out in the heat
A part of him didn't make it back
Parachute tensioned and lifted
Peanut gallery
On the roof of the highbay
Among the antennas
Balloon peeks above the trees
Anticipation
Blloon release!
Billowy balloon blows Big Bill-ward
Launch vehicle on the move
In needs to get directly under the balloon for release, so that SuperBIT doesn't swing into the ground
Turning
Speeding towards its spot
SuperBIT comes off the pin
Slightly askew
Off she goes!
Balloon rising, collar falling
The collar holds all the helium in the top part of the balloon during inflation. It bursts off after launch.
Flying away
SuperBIT rises as the sun sets
Now we wait. And fret.
Last view before going inside to check on everything
I board the plane to head to the downrange telemetry station
SuperBIT's balloon is visible as the bright spot in the upper left.
My plane passes the balloon.
The next morning.
After a long night and a brief rest, Chris and I catch up with the pilot doing pre-flight checkout.
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