Taping and Testing

With BIT’s pre-launch compatibility test finished, we spent June 8-12 of last year taping up the outside for its final shiny/thermal treatment. We also spend nights testing the telescope, while there are stars to observe.

Bill makes a special foam box

For the encoder on front that measures rotation of the middle frame

Taping the cover around the battery box

A little racing stripe down the back

Group action shot

Inspection

Master-level taping

Steven makes little flags for countries that work on SuperBIT

Night hunting

For critters (no armadillo found though)

SNAKE!

Cloud sensor

Long (and blurry) exposure detects clouds that eyes can't see but that make testing hard

Night testing

with both doors open so that forward (bore-sight) and sideways (roll) star cameras can see the sky

Group night testing

Richard tries to cool the camera

It gets really hot on the ground, especially with AC off.