We’re gearing up for the next life support test on Belle. These are with the sub in the shop & me inside. The last one we ran “full closed” for 3 hrs while we running full system shake out & taking atmo & medical data every 5 mins. This time it’s 5 hrs.
Pic from the last 3 hour test.
We got the new bracket for the submarine’s backup O2 tank finished. The bracket allows tank sleeve to be removed without needing to crawl into the nose. We learned our lesson on that from the main O2 tank.
The backup O2 tank in it’s sleeve and mounting bracket. Today we’re mounting it on the hull ceiling in the nose. We spent a week with a foam mock up getting the placement right.
Artist concept of Airship to Orbit in action. Below is small airship bringing people and payload to the Dark Sky Station at 140,000 feet.
On the right is an Orbital Ascender leaving the station and heading to orbit.
Sometimes the fabric is too big for the tables. Jan and Paul spent last Saturday on their hands and knees cutting fabric for the air beams on Ascender 26B.
These will be the 21 foot long beams for the leading & trailed edges.
The O2 tank sleeve for Bella is hot off the printer. Now it on to the rails and brackets.
Where are your students going today? PongSat student experiments at the edge of space.
Every now & then being in the space/aviation field gives you the privilege to meet extraordinary people. After a long day of lecturers I ended up hanging out making paper airplanes with Paul MacCready. It was like talking shop with Orville Wright. Magic evening.
