Here are some photos by Pete KD5ELH from the June 30, 2004, BLT-20 construction meeting.
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Red Sky At Night, Sailor's Delight...
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George W5GFP demonstrates auto-pilot functions on the BLT-20 wing-glider prototype. WA5TWT, WB5TUF, W5ACM, N5RPQ and K5ENG watch.
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Tony N5RPQ wonders why the control surface functions are upside down and backwards. George agrees.
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When in doubt, eat more chips! Pete brought cheese, salsa and more. We ate them all!
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Andy W5ACM, Tony N5RPQ and Glenn WB5TUF contemplate some changes...
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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...
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Batteries will be swapped out. The KPC-3+ TNC will stay, as will the Tokyo High-Power (100 mW) HT on 440.950 MHz.
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Glenn WB5TUF and Tony N5RPQ rip the backup GPS out of the main package. These components are going in the new wing-glider!
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George does some tests.
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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.
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Wow! That's a REALLY small camera! All of the extra video gear is from Randy KA5IIA.
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"No Pictures Please!!" Andy responds to the media coverage of the camera testing.
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Tony and Andy meditate, ruminate and contemplate the events of the BLT-20 construction meeting.
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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.
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Randy is mellow, but focused. What happened to Charlie? When the helium is gone, so is K5ENG!
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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!!!