The field crew: (left to right) standing are Jeff Houser, Eric Christian, Scott Murphy, Steve Holder, Eugene Loh, and seated are Bob Smith and Louis Barbier |
Proceeding with instrument assembly |
Ayers Rock (Uluru) - only place west of Alice Springs where we CAN'T land! |
Sydney Opera House - stopping off point coming and going to the States |
NIGHTGLOW hang test outside assembly building |
Fierce Australian croc attacking NIGHTGLOW |
View of the instrument at night, just prior to a midnight pickup - first step in the launch process |
Eric Christian standing in front of the instrument just outside on a not too windy day |
Marker on the road into town from the airport |
The famous Todd River - obviously lacking water on this day, but running furiously a week later! |
A group of tourists ride on camels across the Todd River |
An authentic Aussie recovery vehicle - eat your heart out, Mel Gibson! |
NIGHTGLOW on her way out to the runway for a launch simulation |
Stephen Holder, the lead NIGHTGLOW electronics technician |
Not a croc, but an Aussie lizard. Not as fierce as the Texas rattler, but cuter. |
Crane test |
ULDB inflation - The small balloon over the pumpkin balloon is the tow balloon, used to lift the CAP (Commandable Apex Package) of the pumpkin balloon. The tow balloon is cut away once the main balloon is inflated a bit. |
ULDB inflation |
Close-up of ULDB inflation |
NIGHTGLOW immediately after launch |
Jeffry McDonald and Scott Murphy working on the instrument assembly in the hangar. |
The instrument running at night -- photo taken with an IR filter |
The instrument running at night |
NIGHTGLOW hanging from "Tiny Tim" - the launch vehicle used in Palestine. For scale, Tiny Tim's wheels are just over 8 feet tall. |
The flight trajectory is shown - we flew west from Palestine and landed near the small (very small) town of Stiles, Texas. |
NIGHTGLOW right after launch as it is ascending |
NIGHTGLOW right after launch as it is ascending |
NIGHTGLOW on its side at landing site |
NIGHTGLOW on the truck as it came back from Stiles |
One of the many rattlesnakes near the landing site (with rabbit dinner) |