Servo Selloff

These last few days have been all about getting Track beam mode to work. Basically, it was Nate making and running a scan, Brian analyzing the data, and the Richardson guys changing something, then repeat. We were not able to fix the problem, but we have some ideas, so I will come back in a few weeks to try out the solution.

So we decided to do a conditional sell-off, one where we check out everything except for Track beam mode. Brian #3 came today to witness. We did turn out some minor errors that were fixed, and we did end up signing the document. Bryan #2 was the third witness.

Next week, I come back to finish up some loose things, and support Brian #1 while he paints the telescope.

I am way behind in posting photos, so here comes a random selection from the last couple of weeks.

We took this photo of Adrian about 1/2 hour after Track beam mode started working, essentially making Polarbear a whole telescope. We had about 5 minutes before sunset.


Nathan spent a lot of the time looking just like this. Staring intensely at the computer, spitting out lots of scan.


As you can imagine, the manlift is pretty fun. Both Adrian and Bryan now know how to drive the thing.



There was a crazy dust devil that hit the CARMA array, apparently, it happens a lot.



We sent Adrian into the big hole to do the last cutting of the tabs. The cable wrap currently works, but we will watch it closely.


I think that Adrian liked it in there. Dave and Daniel scoff because this hole is luxurious compared the the hole they had to sit in for 5 hours.


Brian #1 had to rescue Adrian, I think. Otherwise, I am not sure what he is doing.


Hans really got into priming the counterweights, but Brian #1 put us both to shame when he started using the correct roller.





And finally, the man of the hour, Radek and his family came for a visit. He was impressed.