Here are the minutes of our meeting yesterday --- please just reply with (or let me know) any corrections -- thanks!:
Phoning in: Arnold Gaertner (NRC-INMS), Yorke Brown (Dartmouth & Harvard), Max Fagin (Dartmouth & Harvard), Cordell Grant (Toronto SFL), Karun Thanjavur (UVic), Susana Deustua (STScI)
Yorke and Max presented the flight-readiness status: basically all that's left before our first flights this year can occur is the wiring of the PC boards and components, some last changes to the main control board, and a few small tests and check-outs, so we should be flying "real soon now" -- we'll be watching the weather at our next meeting in two weeks, hopefully to launch at weather opportunities following. Stay tuned.
(BTW, I'm stuck in Canada for the rest of May / early June waiting for my citizenship test to be scheduled, but hopefully Karun will be able to Join Yorke, Max, and Will in NH for the first launches this year.)
For goniometric calibrations, and the pre- and post-flight calibration-check box, Karun's test setup is ready to start taking a little test data, and he and Spencer are working with the machinist to start the detailed design and fab of our pre- and post-flight calibration-check box. At NRC-INMS, Arnold's spectrophotometer for the goniometric calibrations is in use right now, but we should be able to start using that later this summer.
Cordell is proceeding with nanosat design next steps, including payload and power supply specs, and will have occasional questions for us regarding those over the next weeks.
On computing/website, things appear stable -- please just either post a note or let me know if any fixes or changes are needed.
On upcoming grant applications, James Forbes, Afzal Suleman, and I talked with Remy Chabot at NSERC regarding the DND-NSERC program. He was extremely helpful, however he did note that industry contributions are a must for that program (they are typically matched 1:1:1 for industrial contributions : NSERC funding : DND funding in that program, with some level of preference for cash vs. in-kind from industry) -- there is a level of flexibility on a) the exact ratios, on b) cash vs. in-kind from industry, and on c) what counts as in-kind contributions, but we do, or would, need some strong industrial interest and push. We'll have to see what we might be able to get from Meggitt, but we are also starting to talk with a contact at DRDC (Defence Research & Development Canada) about possible other DND programs, esp. those that are not considered to be industrial matching programs. On a side note, Susana noted interest from a colleague in Ecuador, and we'll get his contact info and be in touch.
That's all I remember. Please send things I forgot. Next meeting on Thurs., May 23, at the regular 11:00 Eastern time.
cheers, thanks all! justin
On Thu, 09 May 2013 01:23:57 GMT, Justin Albert wrote:
> Hi, > > Telecon tomorrow (Thursday May 9) at our regular time of 11:00 am > Eastern time (8 am Pacific, 17.00 European). Discussion items include: > upcoming flight plan, flight control board status, gondola flight > systems tests, goniometric calibration, pre- and post-flight > calibration, nanosat design, computing/website, preparation for upcoming > grant applications, and flights beyond the next flight. 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 > II) New lasers, pre- and post-flight calibration, and goniometric calibrations > III) Flight plans this spring > IV) Nanosat design: post or send comments on Cordell's ICD (and CAD drawings) > V) Computing/website > VI) Upcoming grant application status > VII) AOB > > Talk to you all tomorrow! > justin > > Attachments: > http://projectaltair.org/HyperNews/get/AUX/2012/11/12/18.02-43361-Schedule-20120702_hqp.pdf >