Here are minutes of our meeting on Thursday -- please just reply with, or let me know, any corrections -- thanks!:
Phoning in: Arnold Gaertner (NRC) and Yorke Brown (Dartmouth) (regrets from: Susana Deustua (STScI), Houman Hakima & Cordell Grant (UTIAS-SFL))
The next flights will be nighttime observation flights of the LED-based engineering source and then the laser-diode-and-integrating-sphere-based science source (we'll be holding off on a float balloon flight until these observation flights are completed). Last week we did a ground-to-ground observation test, which was partially successful in that we got observations of the source from a ground site 4.4 km distant from the telescope (Dogford Rd. to Robert Frost Lane, for any aficionados of Hanover NH geography), but we had telemetry trouble with our original intended path (the top of Mt. Ascutney to Robert Frost Lane, approx. 30 km), caused by multipath interference from the topology of the two sites -- which would most likely have been ameliorated if we had use Yagi antennas on both the payload and the ground station, rather than the usual flight dipole on the payload. Yorke additionally made some useful robustness updates to the telemetry code, and we'll be trying another ground observation test from that ~30 km distance in the next couple of days -- which can be done in partly cloudy conditions, and shortly thereafter a nighttime flight (which will preferably be done on a mostly clear or clear night). Yorke and Cynthia have made a first crack at a diffuser-based LED source, which will be an extremely useful additional source to have, and they'll soon be updating the LED board that goes along with it.
Laboratory calibration-wise: students Paul and Victor are here at Dartmouth and, between helping with ground tests and flights, will be continuing Karun and Ryan's work on the photometry and payload attitude measurement calibration setup here in Yorke's lab. Additionally, following the goniometric data from NRC on the spheres and our sources, Karun, Divya, Victor, and Ryan are working on numerical modelling of both the present and the future integrating spheres, the latter with and without different baffles in place, in order to study whether a baffle and/or a diffuser in our next set of integrating spheres will be useful for us. And as soon as we have a design for a baffle or diffuser, we'll hand that to Allied Scientific Pro and World Star Tech respectively.
At UTIAS-SFL, Houman will let us know if he has any questions for us regarding the nanosat mass budget etc. He has completed the initial design of the new integrating spheres, and on that front is waiting for info on baffles from Karun and Divya. And he and Cordell are also continuing to work on the solid modelling for the nanosat bus.
On computing/website, things generally appear stable -- please just either post a note or let me know if any fixes or changes are needed.
Regarding grant applications, I've contacted Dale George regarding ordering a (single) superpressure balloon, which will be useful for determining (following the future point at which we attempt to fly it) whether we want to add additional balloons of that type to upcoming grant requests. There also is, of course, much recent interest in U.S. grant applications, which could of course focus on nanosat, balloon flights, or both. The best focus there would likely depend on the requested budget, which in turn depends on granting program. Susana and Nathan will likely be visiting Hanover NH sometime this or next month in order to take a closer look at the current ALTAIR gondola and payload design and flight procedures, for grant request purposes and to better develop shopping lists for JHU students.
That's all I remember, please send things that I forgot. Next telecon as usual in two weeks, on Thursday, July 3, at 2:30 pm Eastern time.
cheers, thanks all! justin
On Wed, 18 Jun 2014 23:01:36 GMT, Justin Albert wrote:
> Hi, > > Telecon tomorrow (June 19) at our regular time of 2:30 pm Eastern time > (11:30 am Pacific, 20.30 European). Discussion items include: upcoming > flight and operations status, goniometric and pre- and post-flight > calibration, nanosat and new laser module design, computing/website, > grant applications, and recap of operation plans. 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) Upcoming flight operations status > II) Pre- and post-flight calibration and goniometric calibrations > III) Longer-term flight plans > IV) Nanosat, new integrating spheres, and multicolour laser module designs > V) Computing/website > VI) Grant applications > 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 >