It’s been almost a year since the disappointing summer/fall of not launching SuperBIT in 2017. I have recovered enough to finally post the photos. We’re also in the field with SuperBIT getting ready to launch again, and I don’t want to get lapped. Plus I’m being pestered/motivated to share these for documentation purposes.
On June 7, 2017 We did our pre-flight compatibility test. This means rolling out the highbay as though we would launch and putting everything together. Then we test our system and the CSBF antennas and commanding, and we roll back inside.
Oomph embiggener
For embiggening oomph (of our power system)
Ready to roll out
With our fake solar panels installed
Bryce, up close
One of our undergrads gets pulled into my reality distortion field
Door's open, time to go
Power cart
We need to keep our system powered to preserve the non-chargeable batteries used for a one-night flight
Getting ready to detach the crane
Rolling out
On BIT's casters
Electronics checks
CSBF elctronics techs and riggers gather to check their systems
BIT is hot!
Too hot. Susan and Michael help give our precious electronics some shade
Big Bill approaching
The launch vehicle (and mobile crane) "Big Bill" comes to pick us up
Installing the ballast hopper and crush pads
The pads are designed to get wrecked when we land, instead of something more important
Testing a ballast drop
Dropping steel shot as ballast gives us a boost to rise quickly through the tropopause
Further assembly
Gathering around
Riggers often travel in herds. They install CSBF's fake solar panels
Hanging out
A lot of compatibility is spent waiting in this configuration while tests happen
Big Bill
In profile to see him in all his glory
Bryce in the boat
He's inside BIT to secure our middle-frame balance weights
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