Yesterday we finally got most things in the Bemco working. We tested the balance system for leaks (especially any from the previous day’s wrench exploits), but since we don’t have anti-freeze, the tanks are only tested in vacuum—no thermal testing.
Plus the cryostat and things showed up. Matt, Laura, and Elio showed up at exactly the same time. Tristan and Nick came a bit later.
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- Long overdue: a shot of the green East Texas landscape, and the CSBF water tower
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- Proof that all six gyros can work at once. After you fix cable and DSP bugs
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- The Bemco full of everything, including the balance pump and tanks
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- Cute setup of balance tanks on step stool for (not quite sufficient) gravitational separation
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- Where we didn’t have AD590s, we taped thermocouples to measure temperatures
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- Thermocouple on computer box
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- Thermocouples on pivot and pivot controller
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- Thermocouple on SMAK (Secondary Mirror Actuator Kontroller)
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- “Wow, it’s like BLAST in a box.” “Let’s stare at it for a while.”
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- We’re Bemco-ing! (As seen through the thick glass/in a dream)
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- Bemco-ing mostly consists of sitting down and watching things change slowly. Plus stressing out when the slightest thing appears wrong.
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- After the door reopens ominously, you can’t help but wander in
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- Wire cage for Bemco things
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- Wires
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- The Pivot is happy (and slightly blurry—the two are probably related)
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- Dina’s day consisted of mounting solar panels in their holder
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- Natalie gets into the Texas spirit, or something like that
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- Goggles! (A bunch of other folks showed up. They brought these glasses; this is the only photographic proof of their existence.)
Steve, Thank You! Now I feel like I am there!