Here are the minutes of our meeting yesterday -- please just reply with (or let me know) any corrections -- thanks!:
Phoning in: Cordell Grant (Toronto SFL), Arnold Gaertner (NRC-INMS), Max Fagin (Dartmouth/Harvard), Yorke Brown (Dartmouth/Harvard), Keith Lykke (NIST), Karun Thanjavur (CFHT/UVic), Elena Pancino (INAF-OABO)
Yorke and Max updated us on the flight situation and ground testing going on at Dartmouth. The weather does not look good in NH, unfortunately, for the next week or so. That doesn't necessarily mean that we won't get a flight off before Christmas (there are 2 weeks until then), but does certainly mean that it won't be on this week's schedule. Max and Yorke will be doing a mountaintop-to-mountaintop test either today or tomorrow to test observation with the LX200 telescope, as well as other systems. Yorke is also working on the next-generation flight control board, and also on integrating the new integrating sphere into the payload.
The three of us are iterating with Ocean Optics regarding the new fiber splitters (and we'll post a note with the schematics for them once Max, Yorke, and I are happy with them) -- the likely delivery for them will be in late January (we will most likely have to fly the old spheres until then, since the present fibers have fittings only for the old Thorlabs sphere). We do however have the new integrating spheres from Labsphere (as of this past Thursday) -- we will find a way to get one of the new spheres up to Ottawa for Arnold soon, in order to continue getting ready for the goniometric calibrations there. I've sent gentle reminders to World Star and U.S. Lasers that we are waiting for bids on the new light sources from them.
A hopefully very likely date for a first Mt. Hopkins run will be the week of Feb. 16-24: our NIST colleagues will be there then, and that is also reading break week at UVic, so Karun and I can be down there, as can Max. Hopefully Yorke might perhaps be able to get a break then too. Keith L. reminded us that we should interface with the SAO (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory) folks in charge of the FLWO (Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory) site on which the NIST little observatory sits on -- that's initially a job for Stubbs -- and then together with the SAO folks we should ensure that any airspace issues are settled, and also interface with Border Patrol, as the latter are active (and armed, and highly suspicious of folks poking about in the desert) in that area, and all of that well prior to going down there.
On nanosat design, Cordell has posted a draft ICD, as well as CAD drawings of the nanosat -- we should all take a very careful look at these (especially the ICD) and let Cordell know any questions or comments. (I'll post a reminder about this once I've had a chance to have a careful look at it myself!) There are also TBD's on the ICD that would be very good to fill in if we can at this point. Please definitely do follow up via hypernews with any questions or comments you have on them at all (and even if you're just confused about something) -- it's extremely important that the ICD (as well as general schematic issues with the satellite) be correct going forward.
On computing/website, Chris Tooley has been making some minor improvements, such as adding the ability to upload files that are not images. Things should, we think, be working fairly well now, so please just e-mail me and/or Chris if you ever encounter any issues.
On upcoming grant applications, regarding the Canadian DND-NSERC program, we have been interfacing with SwRI regarding future possibilities for balloon control and propulsion (they are part of a USAF program for small high-altitude airships), to determine what Canadian engineering company (or companies) they might perhaps additionally like to work with, as we will need to jointly apply with a Canadian company. Once that question is answered, we will then approach that company or companies, and following that we will talk to the DND-NSERC program manager. Then we can start writing the application -- hopefully early next year.
In other business -- we need to choose a new meeting time! -- as both Yorke and I will be teaching on Tuesdays at the 12-1 Eastern meeting time we currently have. Thursdays looked best to the people on the phone, so I'll send around a Doodle poll, perhaps with the choices: (Eastern time) Thursday 9-10, Thursday 10-11, Thursday 11-12, Thursday 12-1, and Thursday 1-2. (There also will be the choice on whether to restart on Jan. 3 or Jan. 10.) Please just let me know if there should be any changes or additions to those voting choices, and otherwise I'll send around a Doodle poll tomorrow.
That's all I remember -- please send things I forgot!
cheers, thanks, and talk again next year! justin
On Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:08:37 GMT, Justin Albert wrote:
> Hi, > > Telecon tomorrow (Tuesday Dec. 11) at our regular time of 12:00 noon > Eastern time (9 am Pacific, 18.00 European). Discussion items include: > preparation / weather issues for the next flight (night flight to > observe the source in real conditions for the first time -- poor weather > has unfortunately so far prevented this flight from getting off yet), > the next light sources, goniometric calibration, nanosat design, > website, and flights beyond the upcoming flights. A reminder of the CSA > project timeline is attached. > > Here's the dial-in info: If you are calling in from Canada or U.S.: > 1. Dial Toll-Free Number: 866-740-1260 (U.S. & Canada) > 2. Enter 7-digit access code: 5082741 followed by the # > > If you are calling in from elsewhere: > 1. To locate International Toll-Free Numbers go to > http://www.readytalk.com/intl (enter 7-digit access code 5082741) > 2. Dial toll free number from web link > 3. Enter Passcode: Enter 7-digit ACCESS CODE: 5082741 followed by the # > > Here's the tentative agenda: > I) Flights > A) Preparation for next flight -- weather forecasts, etc > B) New light sources, new integrating spheres, new fiber splitters, and goniometric calibrations > C) Mt. Hopkins (& beyond) > II) Nanosat design: Cordell's recent updates > III) Computing & website > IV) Upcoming grant applications > V) AOB > > Talk to you all tomorrow! > justin > > Attachment: > http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2012/11/12/18.02-43361-Schedule-20120702_hqp.pdf >