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 Riggers hanging out • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780650669/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780650669_75b6934eb9_m.jpg)
Riggers hanging out
Above the SIP card
![Steven balances the reaction wheel Steven balances the reaction wheel • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52779863737/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52779863737_599799691c_m.jpg)
Steven balances the reaction wheel
![The pivot The pivot's partly-insulated hat • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780814660/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780814660_d550cec1ff_m.jpg)
The pivot's partly-insulated hat
![Sun sensor Sun sensor • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780398221/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780398221_65b142dd33_m.jpg)
Sun sensor
![Rebecca Rebecca's birthday • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780814520/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780814520_a209f9697d_m.jpg)
Rebecca's birthday
![Hard drive mount/insulation Hard drive mount/insulation • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52779863532/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52779863532_b9f2a03264_m.jpg)
Hard drive mount/insulation
![Spencer Spencer's porthole • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780814585/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780814585_1bb1ddc56d_m.jpg)
Spencer's porthole
As we work on thermal covering all around BIT
![Bill taping Bill taping • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780869418/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780869418_d69c6c66be_m.jpg)
Bill taping
![Susan taping Susan taping • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780869368/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780869368_6661d7a366_m.jpg)
Susan taping
![Vy taping Vy taping • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52779863402/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52779863402_9eec23286d_m.jpg)
Vy taping
![Starlink antenna Starlink antenna • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52779863377/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52779863377_d7b992772c_m.jpg)
Starlink antenna
We're test flying one, which may provide lots of bandwidth
![Back to taping Back to taping • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780814290/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780814290_b582ce9136_m.jpg)
Back to taping
![Box around the moving elevation drive Box around the moving elevation drive • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780650134/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780650134_54524ea4c6_m.jpg)
Box around the moving elevation drive
![Not finished Not finished • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52779863237/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52779863237_5689579e86_m.jpg)
Not finished
![Washer fishing Washer fishing • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52779863182/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52779863182_35693f3eda_m.jpg)
Washer fishing
With tape on a stick, to clean off the battery covers
![Ajay tests MCC replacement parts Ajay tests MCC replacement parts • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780650004/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780650004_24e7d205b6_m.jpg)
Ajay tests MCC replacement parts
As we consider a replacement to resolve some issues
![Repairing the MCC Repairing the MCC • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780814020/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780814020_c72c8ae1b9_m.jpg)
Repairing the MCC
After finally deciding
![Shiny telescope Shiny telescope • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780813985/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780813985_e56cf7dc60_m.jpg)
Shiny telescope
I make the front golden as I finish cleaning up its covering
![Group photo Group photo • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780813885/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780813885_b1b48a5630_m.jpg)
Group photo
Before we lose Steven and the group starts shrinking
![Steven Steven's final tapig • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780397546/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780397546_a4b0726047_m.jpg)
Steven's final tapig
![Attempted astrophotography at airport Attempted astrophotography at airport • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780397376/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780397376_55d507c58f_m.jpg)
Attempted astrophotography at airport
With Milky Way, and Large Magellanic Cloud at top right
![Painting the heater power supplies Painting the heater power supplies • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780649579/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780649579_3cee68d19e_m.jpg)
Painting the heater power supplies
![Iridium Pilot "mushroom" mounting Iridium Pilot "mushroom" mounting • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52779862742/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52779862742_a549ffbed0_m.jpg)
Iridium Pilot "mushroom" mounting
![Antenna boom Antenna boom • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780397241/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780397241_3e9fa6d645_m.jpg)
Antenna boom
![TDRSS Hi-Gain antenna TDRSS Hi-Gain antenna • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52779862542/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52779862542_91c0ca8a3e_m.jpg)
TDRSS Hi-Gain antenna
![Shorter rigging Shorter rigging • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52779862592/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52779862592_5959afccde_m.jpg)
Shorter rigging
To eke out a little bit more height
![LIfting up for the SIP cart LIfting up for the SIP cart • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780868248/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780868248_333e810577_m.jpg)
LIfting up for the SIP cart
![Sitting down on the SIP cart Sitting down on the SIP cart • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780649164/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780649164_6cbe11871f_m.jpg)
Sitting down on the SIP cart
![Susan inside the boat Susan inside the boat • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780396936/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780396936_2bb6552170_m.jpg)
Susan inside the boat
Testing if she can fit
![Outside at the airport Outside at the airport • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780649064/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780649064_788f358f2d_m.jpg)
Outside at the airport
![Fancy rich person jet Fancy rich person jet • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780868033/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780868033_70d7b8801e_m.jpg)
Fancy rich person jet
Falcon 7X, according to the BIT people that know airplanes
![Blue suits Blue suits • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780867998/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780867998_6ff1ec4878_m.jpg)
Blue suits
For style (and electrostatic protection)
![Parking BIT in the corner Parking BIT in the corner • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780867938/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780867938_5aeaf9bb3a_m.jpg)
Parking BIT in the corner
To make room for the balloon
![The balloon comes in The balloon comes in • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52779862057/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52779862057_f76bd9cccc_m.jpg)
The balloon comes in
![Bottom of the balloon Bottom of the balloon • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52780813175/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52780813175_092ee02d3c_m.jpg)
Bottom of the balloon
With the instrument package there
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