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Marie seals a gap between sun shields with mylar tape.
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Mark makes unusual use of the ladder in an while filling the nitrogen
tank.
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The gondola, nearly completely assembled.
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Pulling the gondola out the door for a hang test attempt. The highbay
doors are not tall enough to simply pick up the gondola with the
launch vehicle while it's still inside — instead, we release the
pivot from the crane, push it out the door along the rails, then
attach the pivot to the truck and pick it up.
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Moving into position.
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Victor attaches the flight train to the pivot.
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Victor attaching the pivot again, on another hang test attempt.
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Reverse angle.
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Matt talks to some visiting scientists, who are observing the hang
test goings on.
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The NSBF solar array rig.
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Solar arrays.
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Victor guides the truck in to pick up the gondola on yet another
attempt.
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The truck and hydraulics operators.
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Victor instructs the operator to lift the gondola.
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Removing the wheels.
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Moving the solar arrays into place.
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Moving a crush pad into place. The crush pads attach to the gondola
feet and the NSBF solar array rig attach to the crush pad mounting
plates.
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Attaching the solar array rig. There was a problem with hole
alignment, and it took nearly an hour to sort it out.
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NSBF was thoughtful enough to put up a squirrel-proof birdfeeder, to
keep the birds happy as the gondola is launched. (No, I have no idea
what it is and what it's for.)
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Some Esrange people check the aircraft transponder.
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Pulling away from the highbay.
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Out on the pad.
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The NSBF PIR — Presicion Infrared Radiometer — reflecting
Jeff. The radiometer measures heat reflecting off the Earth and
clouds, which determines float altitude.
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A good look at the mylar flooring. The box on the upper left is one of
the star camera transmitters. Note the entrancing spiral on the roll
flywheel.
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Coming back in.
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Friendly little Bunny.
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