Here are the minutes of our meeting on Thursday -- please just reply with (or let me know) any corrections -- thanks!:
Phoning in: Arnold Gaertner (NRC-INMS), Max Fagin (Dartmouth/Harvard), Yorke Brown (Dartmouth/Harvard), Karun Thanjavur (UVic), Keith Vanderlinde (Toronto), Susana Deustua (STScI), Elena Pancino (INAF-OABO)
Yorke and Max updated us on the status at Dartmouth -- they're working on updating the power supply (to rechargeable LiPoly batteries, instead of the nonrechargeable lithium ones used presently, for both the avoidance of having to dig them out after each flight, and also cost savings and a small weight reduction), and also the flight control board. Conditions are unfortunately still not good there for serendipitous flights, but we have spring and the new payload to greatly look forward to.
On Friday (i.e. yesterday), World Star Tech finally got back to us with the quotations for new laser diode sources. We are thus ordering new sources from them -- new fiber-coupled modules (coupled to our Ocean Optics fibers) at:
1) 450 nm, 400 mW (we're ordering 2 of these) 2) 638 nm, 220 mW (1 of these) 3) 670 nm, 350 mW (2 of these) 4) 808 nm, 350 mW (1 of these)
I'll post the e-mails with the orders we made as followups to this message. The modules should arrive by approximately the end of the month. We are holding off for now on ordering a combined module (with beams combined via dichroic optics rather than via fibers) -- we might consider that later this year, but for right now we think it would take too long for them to make such a module, because it would essentially need to be designed from scratch (although they are very kindly willing to do so).
Karun, together with our student Spencer Bialek, has started to work on a box that will serve as a pre- and post-flight calibration check for the onboard photodiodes. This will be a portable box, which the payload can sit on, which will contain a NIST-calibrated photodiode at the top which will fit snugly against the output port of the integrating sphere. With such a box, we'll be able to cross-check the stability of the onboard calibration photodiodes right before and right after each flight.
Arnold is still collecting hardware (and manpower!) for the goniometric calibrations, and we'll send him the integrating sphere (one of which is now in Canada) and (some) sources when he's ready for them.
Cordell is in India until at least next week for the BRITE launch campaign, but as before please post comments on his draft ICD, as well as his CAD drawings, as soon as possible.
On computing/website, the Chris Tooley has made some improvements in the script that runs the site, and we've also made some improvements in pages such as the Instrumentation page. James Hartwick and Spencer Bialek will be making a few more improvements in the coming weeks. As usual, let us (Chris Tooley [ctooley@uvic.ca] and I) know if you see any issues that should be fixed anywhere, or also of course feel free to log in and change them yourself anytime.
On upcoming grant applications, we've talked with Steve Smith at SwRI, and he is OK with us contacting Canadian companies to serve as potential partners for a DND-NSERC grant application. We've contacted Magellan Aerospace, but unfortunately right now they're too swamped with a competition for a RADARSAT contract. We will be contacting more companies in the coming weeks.
That's all I remember. Please send things I forgot. Next meeting on Thurs., Feb. 14 (Valentine's Day), at the regular 11:00 Eastern time.
cheers, thanks all! justin
On Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:02:35 GMT, Justin Albert wrote:
> Hi, > > Telecon tomorrow (Thursday Jan. 31) at our regular time of 11:00 am > Eastern time (8 am Pacific, 17.00 European). Discussion items include: > preparation for the next flight control board and other work in NH, the > next light sources, goniometric calibration, pre- and post-flight > calibration, nanosat design, website, preparation for upcoming grant > applications, and flight plans for this winter and spring. 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) Ongoing work at Dartmouth -- preparation for next payload and flights in coming months > II) New light sources, new fiber splitters, pre- and post-flight calibration, and goniometric calibrations > III) Flight plans this winter and spring > IV) Nanosat design: please post or send comments on Cordell's ICD (and CAD drawings)! > V) Computing & website > VI) Upcoming grant applications > VII) AOB > > Talk to you all tomorrow! > justin > > Attachment: > http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2012/11/12/18.02-43361-Schedule-20120702_hqp.pdf >