PSAS/ news/ 2009-05-03 - Integration and Test Day Part 1/2

Summary

We met at Tim's house this Sunday from 10:00am until the late afternoon to set up the launch tower, put together the rocket, revive all the old ground systems equipment, and make sure everything was up and running.

The outcome was very positive: there's a lot to do, but everything was working, including the new launch tower, and old communications system.

To-dos

Next step

A dry-run launch on Sunday May 17th, again at Tim's house.

Pictures

Launch Tower on the ground

Launch control electronics

Rocket sections

The tower's up!

Looking up the tower

Ground control. Has radios and a computer for initiating a launch

Assembling the rocket

Launch lugs. These guide the rocket up the launch rail attached to the tower

Rocket assembling

Looking up the launch rail that will guide the rocket for the first few feet

Loading the rocket

Raising the rocket into position

Rocket in take off position

The whole assembly. Note the BBQ antenna integrated into the tower

Base station and launch tower in final configuration