With BIT’s functionality tested, it was time to shift to major arts and crafts mode. All of BIT gets covered in some combination of insulation foam, tape, and shiny aluminized mylar. The exact proportions of each are carefully chosen to keep each part thermally happy in the stratosphere. Some of this had previously been done inside the outer frame and around the telescope, but outside the outer frame needs a lot of it before we can fly.
With the arrival of Bill we reached peak team size. But we also started shrinking later in the week when Steven had to leave us.
Riggers hanging out
Above the SIP card
Steven balances the reaction wheel
The pivot's partly-insulated hat
Sun sensor
Rebecca's birthday
Hard drive mount/insulation
Spencer's porthole
As we work on thermal covering all around BIT
Bill taping
Susan taping
Vy taping
Starlink antenna
We're test flying one, which may provide lots of bandwidth
Back to taping
Box around the moving elevation drive
Not finished
Washer fishing
With tape on a stick, to clean off the battery covers
Ajay tests MCC replacement parts
As we consider a replacement to resolve some issues
Repairing the MCC
After finally deciding
Shiny telescope
I make the front golden as I finish cleaning up its covering
Group photo
Before we lose Steven and the group starts shrinking
Steven's final tapig
Attempted astrophotography at airport
With Milky Way, and Large Magellanic Cloud at top right
Painting the heater power supplies
Iridium Pilot "mushroom" mounting
Antenna boom
TDRSS Hi-Gain antenna
Shorter rigging
To eke out a little bit more height
LIfting up for the SIP cart
Sitting down on the SIP cart
Susan inside the boat
Testing if she can fit
Outside at the airport
Fancy rich person jet
Falcon 7X, according to the BIT people that know airplanes
Blue suits
For style (and electrostatic protection)
Parking BIT in the corner
To make room for the balloon
The balloon comes in
Bottom of the balloon
With the instrument package there
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