Here are some photos by Pete KD5ELH from the June 30, 2004, BLT-20 construction meeting.


Red Sky At Night, Sailor's Delight...


George W5GFP demonstrates auto-pilot functions on the BLT-20 wing-glider prototype. WA5TWT, WB5TUF, W5ACM, N5RPQ and K5ENG watch.


Tony N5RPQ wonders why the control surface functions are upside down and backwards. George agrees.


When in doubt, eat more chips! Pete brought cheese, salsa and more. We ate them all!


Andy W5ACM, Tony N5RPQ and Glenn WB5TUF contemplate some changes...


Compete GPS system checks were successful. Both systems were totally functional, but will we remember to change the callsigns to reflect the new flight designator?? If you see "BLT-19" in the downlinked packets, we didn't...


Batteries will be swapped out. The KPC-3+ TNC will stay, as will the Tokyo High-Power (100 mW) HT on 440.950 MHz.


Glenn WB5TUF and Tony N5RPQ rip the backup GPS out of the main package. These components are going in the new wing-glider!


George does some tests.


We'll be adding a TV transmitter to monitor the wing-glider from the main package. It's small, light, and puts out 800 mW in the 900-MHz band.


Wow! That's a REALLY small camera! All of the extra video gear is from Randy KA5IIA.


"No Pictures Please!!" Andy responds to the media coverage of the camera testing.


Tony and Andy meditate, ruminate and contemplate the events of the BLT-20 construction meeting.


We finish the night with a test of the remote cut-down circuitry - just in case the wing-glider has trouble getting loose from the main payload. It incorporates a multi-touch-tone sequence, some interface circuits and an electric match to cut the line to the glider. We'll do a "full-up" test at the next meeting.


Randy is mellow, but focused. What happened to Charlie? When the helium is gone, so is K5ENG!


Last but not least - we catch a pass of AMSAT-ECHO using Andy's TH-D7A HT and POQET PC just after midnight. If we can copy a satellite with this stuff, we can CERTAINLY copy BLT-20!!

Our Integration Meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 28, 2004, at the Secret BLT Lab (310 Lombardy) in Sugar Land - 8 PM till 10 PM.

Launch is scheduled for 10 AM on August 21, 2004 from the Wharton Regional Airport. Be There!!!