Spider-2 finally has a chance to go to the field! After a short notice decision that we’d have a chance to fly this year, we jumped into action spending a frantic month packing. I include a few photos from this time in Princeton, mainly of our cryostat (named Llorothaag, or Lloro for short) going into her box.
First we go to Palestine, TX, and the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility. There we will reassemble and test Spider, and integrate with the NASA electronics.
Lloro’s truck arrived on May 27, the first wave of people arrived on May 31, and I came with another wave the day after. Much of the time so far has been spent unpacking and organizing our work area, but we’re also starting on some work and assembly that will take a while: preparing Spider’s six telescope inserts to do science, and preparing to test all of the ambient temperature electronics in the Bemco. The Bemco is a big thermal/vacuum test chamber used to simulate the environment of a balloon payload in the stratosphere.
![Llorothaag starts to be boxed in Llorothaag starts to be boxed in • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123767206/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123767206_2bf999de49_m.jpg)
Llorothaag starts to be boxed in
I hope she (Spider's cryostat) isn't claustrophobic.
![Boxed on two sides Boxed on two sides • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123767196/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123767196_f36426897b_m.jpg)
Boxed on two sides
![All sides on, plus extra 2x4 bracing at the top All sides on, plus extra 2x4 bracing at the top • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52124012199/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52124012199_a13fcee885_m.jpg)
All sides on, plus extra 2x4 bracing at the top
Plus Simon, proud of his work.
![All boxed up All boxed up • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123798058/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123798058_e20b7bf6e8_m.jpg)
All boxed up
In the increasingly empty Princeton highbay
![Sea container "A" before its "final" closing Sea container "A" before its "final" closing • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123767101/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123767101_1076c22a4c_m.jpg)
Sea container "A" before its "final" closing
"Not quite final", but the last I have a photo of
![And ccontainer "B" And ccontainer "B" • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123797998/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123797998_3eaffd6cf7_m.jpg)
And ccontainer "B"
![The truck departs Princeton The truck departs Princeton • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123766721/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123766721_ab66884c65_m.jpg)
The truck departs Princeton
![Back in Palestine Back in Palestine • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123797728/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123797728_fdf7a28206_m.jpg)
Back in Palestine
Back at CSBF's science team highbays, basically our home away from home.
![Unpacking Unpacking • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52124012044/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52124012044_28ba94a4bd_m.jpg)
Unpacking
I arrived a day later. First-wavers Susan and Suren have already unpacked a lot
![Full of boxes Full of boxes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123767031/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123767031_95c57e48bd_m.jpg)
Full of boxes
We won't be playing any badminton in the west highbay
![Lloro arrived intact Lloro arrived intact • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52124012119/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52124012119_03aff81693_m.jpg)
Lloro arrived intact
![I spy on Sherry taking a selfie I spy on Sherry taking a selfie • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52122738757/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52122738757_63a254f624_m.jpg)
I spy on Sherry taking a selfie
![More fo Lloro More fo Lloro • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52124012019/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52124012019_90e92e1c57_m.jpg)
More fo Lloro
Plus a better view of our good luck sacrificed unicorn head. And Corwin unpacking parts from the crate base.
![Tables set up for telescope insert work Tables set up for telescope insert work • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52124012064/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52124012064_474c1c041b_m.jpg)
Tables set up for telescope insert work
![Bye bye bugs Bye bye bugs • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52122738692/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52122738692_476bb7a617_m.jpg)
Bye bye bugs
Suren cleans out the bug graveyard in the highbay's cable trough
![East highbay East highbay • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52122738687/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52122738687_7d06bac2e8_m.jpg)
East highbay
Also full of Spider boxes, as we sprawl over the whole building
![Cryostat plus love seat Cryostat plus love seat • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52124267625/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52124267625_196b67ec84_m.jpg)
Cryostat plus love seat
The love seat is excellent swag that came with our large Uline orders while packing
![Starting to uncrate inserts Starting to uncrate inserts • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52124011949/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52124011949_cd39a770c0_m.jpg)
Starting to uncrate inserts
![Applying protective top cover Applying protective top cover • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123797873/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123797873_8e6acb3ec4_m.jpg)
Applying protective top cover
Texas highbays have a lot of fauna
![Intact shipping brackets Intact shipping brackets • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123766951/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123766951_9c11edca15_m.jpg)
Intact shipping brackets
And Vy peeking inside the outer wrap. The new brackets (black plastic parts) to support the focal plane during shipping arrived safely
![Office area Office area • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123766941/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123766941_54b5186720_m.jpg)
Office area
Set up in the back of the highbay
![Four inserts out Four inserts out • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52122738622/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52122738622_e50c94c1ef_m.jpg)
Four inserts out
![Lloro Lloro • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52122738612/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52122738612_59d18a2963_m.jpg)
Lloro
Lifted off the crate base
![Shackles Shackles • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52122738602/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52122738602_97896c539b_m.jpg)
Shackles
Used to rig the ground-support cart to the lifting spreader bar
![Break time Break time • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123766916/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123766916_9f3e788460_m.jpg)
Break time
Joseph and Sherry reset in front of the inserts
![Progress Progress • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52124267535/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52124267535_94be6db56e_m.jpg)
Progress
The highbay grows slightly more organized
![Lloro lifted Lloro lifted • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52122738567/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52122738567_8218d6a1fb_m.jpg)
Lloro lifted
To the normal position for ground operations. Also swapped the support bearings to the flight versions
![Lloro in profile Lloro in profile • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52124267510/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52124267510_e6eb70e397_m.jpg)
Lloro in profile
![Lloro Lloro's crate is tarped in the "Tim shed" • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123797793/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123797793_b5ae22952e_m.jpg)
Lloro's crate is tarped in the "Tim shed"
Where Tiny Tim once roamed
![Tim Shed Tim Shed • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123797768/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123797768_992383b6e1_m.jpg)
Tim Shed
![Group action shot Group action shot • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52124267475/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52124267475_5ea492ba42_m.jpg)
Group action shot
![Tagging the new IRTHM Tagging the new IRTHM • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52124011764/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52124011764_e342b920bf_m.jpg)
Tagging the new IRTHM
"Insert rotation thingamajig". One more needed to be made to be able to work on all 6 inserts at once
![Spider stencil Spider stencil • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52124011714/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52124011714_e43cc3269c_m.jpg)
Spider stencil
![Bemco Bemco • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123797743/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123797743_11c6c692da_m.jpg)
Bemco
Meanwhile Susan moves electronics over to the "Bemco" thermal-vacuum test chamber. To test things in simulated flight-like conditions.
![Highbay door cracked Highbay door cracked • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52124011729/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52124011729_fbe55e5c5e_m.jpg)
Highbay door cracked
On a precious nice day
![Liquid helium fill lines Liquid helium fill lines • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123797703/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123797703_d7ffe53c9d_m.jpg)
Liquid helium fill lines
And unicorn's new home
![Five inserts open Five inserts open • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52124011664/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52124011664_89d3aae47d_m.jpg)
Five inserts open
As we inspect them for shipping damage, and prepare them to do science
![Bonus carpentry Bonus carpentry • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52123766741/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52123766741_40faaff0ce_m.jpg)
Bonus carpentry
Suren makes use of the IRTHM off-cuts
I am so excited for you guys!!! Love that the unicorn head has survived this long.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Fuck ya bud. Get er done.