Up the bowels of ANITA setting up cabling.
We've been taking calibration data for every channel in ANITA. This is all highly important to the success of the project, but it would have been good if myself and Abby had only had to take each data set once ... not twice, like we've ended up doing. It's all very frustrating, but needs doing.
ANITA suspended outside the hangar to test the drop down antennas
There has been good news for ANITA in the last week, however. The drop down mechanism was tested and works. Then, last Sunday, we had our hang test. This involves setting up and hanging the instrument from the 'Boss', the vehicle used to launch the balloons from, in full flight configuration. After a lot of stress we finally got everything ready and were passed with only a couple of minor difficulties that have since been resolved. So now we have a period of time during which we're taking all measurements that could possibly be useful while we wait to launch.
Away from work the irritation at measurement taking hasn't been helped by a certain boredom. It seems idiotic that I've come all this way, to a such an impressive continent that most people will never see, though many would love to, and I get bored! So I've resolved to make more of an effort!
I did get to go on a tour of the pressure ridges just where the ice shelf meets Ross Island at Scott Base. The ice shelf can apparently move a few feet a week, so where it meets the land large fractures form. The ice shelf is only 8 or so feet thick here and walking along the ridges may sound dangerous, but the largest transport to work is 60 tons and crosses the ice near the ridges so I guess it's OK! Anyway, there isn't much to tell about the walk, other than it was stunning.
Pressure ridges
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