The final major technical hurdle before SuperBIT can launch was its April 3 Compatiblity test. We rolled outside and connected all of the balloon and satellite electronics to make sure everything worked together. It did. There was also a little bit of final preparation to do beforehand, mainly finishing up the DRSes (Data Recovery Systems), which are essentially hard drives on parachutes that we can use for “high bandwidth downlink”.
SuperBIT being fully assembled outside also provides a good photo opportunity, so lots of people came outside to pose with it.
The test passed fine, and we then started to wait for a potential launch day that checks all the weather and safety boxes. Our first such potential day is here, and I write this in a short gap between preparations.
![Rolling outside Rolling outside • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819147428/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819147428_1f3d438905_m.jpg)
Rolling outside
For the first time since adding the cart
![Tons of clearance Tons of clearance • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818700856/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818700856_87d00cf102_m.jpg)
Tons of clearance
![SuperBIT sitting outside SuperBIT sitting outside • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818136992/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818136992_3b094f4d78_m.jpg)
SuperBIT sitting outside
For a satellite comms test
![Ellen and Ajay test the DRSes Ellen and Ajay test the DRSes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818891169/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818891169_0c21a60267_m.jpg)
Ellen and Ajay test the DRSes
Data Recovery Systems
![Richard adds labels to the data drops Richard adds labels to the data drops • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819147278/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819147278_38313917d9_m.jpg)
Richard adds labels to the data drops
![Susan enlists her parents to help Susan enlists her parents to help • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819147298/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819147298_fe2e792505_m.jpg)
Susan enlists her parents to help
Sophia and Kevin stopped by Wanaka as part of a New Zealand vacation
![Emaad astounds Emaad astounds • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818700716/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818700716_eea1c0c03b_m.jpg)
Emaad astounds
With something on his screen that I no longer recall
![Spencer Spencer's last visit to the beach • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819108490/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819108490_5a8595700f_m.jpg)
Spencer's last visit to the beach
Before flying home
![Vy Vy's warmth sloth • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819108435/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819108435_7dc25da316_m.jpg)
Vy's warmth sloth
![Weigh in photography Weigh in photography • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818700646/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818700646_9a2031e067_m.jpg)
Weigh in photography
With Curtis too
![3555 lbs 3555 lbs • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818136787/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818136787_c6516a8fb4_m.jpg)
3555 lbs
![Parachute folding Parachute folding • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819108405/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819108405_60bb688aec_m.jpg)
Parachute folding
![Bill reflects Bill reflects • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819147083/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819147083_fd5b1ffbc7_m.jpg)
Bill reflects
![Garrison Garrison • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818890974/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818890974_7f87198e59_m.jpg)
Garrison
![Arts and crafts Arts and crafts • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819147028/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819147028_b86ac026cd_m.jpg)
Arts and crafts
![Sun shielding for the DRSes Sun shielding for the DRSes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819146983/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819146983_f207d9e6ec_m.jpg)
Sun shielding for the DRSes
![More arts and crafts More arts and crafts • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818700461/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818700461_7611913ff1_m.jpg)
More arts and crafts
![Installed DRS with sun shield Installed DRS with sun shield • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819146848/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819146848_c06e06aff1_m.jpg)
Installed DRS with sun shield
![Space Kiwi Space Kiwi's safety seat • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818890814/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818890814_9df9f734b6_m.jpg)
Space Kiwi's safety seat
Complete with cup holder
![Checking on the GoPro Checking on the GoPro • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818136562/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818136562_9e402d68ec_m.jpg)
Checking on the GoPro
![Ready to roll out Ready to roll out • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819108115/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819108115_d46eaa7d9c_m.jpg)
Ready to roll out
Early in the morning, on Compatibility day
![The launch crane awaits The launch crane awaits • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819108095/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819108095_0e3967afb5_m.jpg)
The launch crane awaits
![Rolled out Rolled out • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819146753/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819146753_806c628f90_m.jpg)
Rolled out
![Wrangling cables Wrangling cables • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818136422/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818136422_5c0344fcae_m.jpg)
Wrangling cables
![Rolling out the solar skirt and stand Rolling out the solar skirt and stand • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819146733/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819146733_413d1c3d95_m.jpg)
Rolling out the solar skirt and stand
![Lifting onto the skirt Lifting onto the skirt • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818700181/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818700181_fdaf2c7c46_m.jpg)
Lifting onto the skirt
![Connecting cables to the DRSes Connecting cables to the DRSes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819107940/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819107940_81109d9886_m.jpg)
Connecting cables to the DRSes
![SuperBIT sunrise SuperBIT sunrise • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819107910/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819107910_7f15c1c226_m.jpg)
SuperBIT sunrise
![Lifting up Lifting up • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819107860/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819107860_8b2374e95c_m.jpg)
Lifting up
![Up the bottom Up the bottom • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818890479/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818890479_81b60950ae_m.jpg)
Up the bottom
Ballast hopper in the middle, with four DRSes
![Mike wrestles BIT Mike wrestles BIT's leashes • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818700066/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818700066_aeeceeb41c_m.jpg)
Mike wrestles BIT's leashes
And Daniel watches the launch pin
![Backing up Backing up • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819146498/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819146498_81d2c73518_m.jpg)
Backing up
![SuperBIT flying in the clouds SuperBIT flying in the clouds • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819107730/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819107730_bc7d363fe7_m.jpg)
SuperBIT flying in the clouds
![Cloudy mountains Cloudy mountains • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818699941/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818699941_45b22bda17_m.jpg)
Cloudy mountains
![Reversed position Reversed position • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818890324/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818890324_5094be6156_m.jpg)
Reversed position
![Ellen demonstrates the expanded PPE Ellen demonstrates the expanded PPE • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819107655/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819107655_7b36e692a9_m.jpg)
Ellen demonstrates the expanded PPE
![Expanded set of personal protective equipment Expanded set of personal protective equipment • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818136027/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818136027_bcc3bf869e_m.jpg)
Expanded set of personal protective equipment
Foam sword and shield
![Susan and BIT Susan and BIT • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819146343/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819146343_474bc63dee_m.jpg)
Susan and BIT
![Susan Susan • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819146313/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819146313_eff33d9397_m.jpg)
Susan
![Ellen Ellen • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818135947/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818135947_25e9f7daa3_m.jpg)
Ellen
Who unfortunately kept looking at her phone to my left
![Ajay Ajay • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818699706/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818699706_7a6bee7da8_m.jpg)
Ajay
![Emaad Emaad • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818135902/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818135902_86021ec6de_m.jpg)
Emaad
![Me! Me! • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819146183/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819146183_eb89637b69_m.jpg)
Me!
With lucky space socks
![Women of SuperBIT Women of SuperBIT • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818699611/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818699611_fa2a0c5350_m.jpg)
Women of SuperBIT
![Vy is supportive Vy is supportive • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818135777/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818135777_864e396aec_m.jpg)
Vy is supportive
![Richard Richard • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819146083/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819146083_0165008947_m.jpg)
Richard
![SuperBIT is thiiiis big SuperBIT is thiiiis big • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818889954/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818889954_03b61385e6_m.jpg)
SuperBIT is thiiiis big
![The "Durham group" The "Durham group" • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818889909/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818889909_1dda9e93fc_m.jpg)
The "Durham group"
Quotes because Ellen graduated and moved to Sydnet
![David David • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819145993/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819145993_b9118ddf47_m.jpg)
David
![David closer David closer • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818699381/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818699381_bea44e8d64_m.jpg)
David closer
![The next balloon! The next balloon! • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818889789/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818889789_7cfd2247df_m.jpg)
The next balloon!
For EUSO's flight, after ours
![Barth is serious Barth is serious • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818889729/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818889729_ba13f8c842_m.jpg)
Barth is serious
![No wait, Barth is not serious No wait, Barth is not serious • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818889694/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818889694_d3595715b6_m.jpg)
No wait, Barth is not serious
![Barth and BIT Barth and BIT • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819107030/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819107030_da3abeef19_m.jpg)
Barth and BIT
![Group photo Group photo • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818699236/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818699236_c81f564e05_m.jpg)
Group photo
![Larger family of warmth animals Larger family of warmth animals • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52819145808/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52819145808_b767b582f2_m.jpg)
Larger family of warmth animals
![Droppign back down Droppign back down • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818699166/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818699166_7454dff604_m.jpg)
Droppign back down
![New Zealands native birds damage the solar panels New Zealands native birds damage the solar panels • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/52818699141/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm66.static.flickr.com/65535/52818699141_f770b2cb7c_m.jpg)
New Zealands native birds damage the solar panels
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