How long does it take to turn a torpedo into SMART-HELIOS?


The Torpedo and its inner life
(photo: Matthias Gottschalk)
Test connections on computer
(photo: Matthias Gottschalk)
Yesterday an email arrived, that we will start at 11:00 o’clock. Thus, the Leipzig university people arrived shortly after the airport opened. The plan: repair the broadband sensors of SMART-HELIOS in time for the 11:00 o’clock flight. As the clouds did not clear, the start time was delayed and delayed. Hence, it was possible that we may not fly at all. But we had to open SMART-HELIOS to check internal connections. The estimated time for the whole action: at least 3 h. So we started, taking into account, that SMART-HELIOS would not join the upcoming flight. So we dismantled SMART-HELIOS completely. While searching for the error of the broadband data acquisition, we missed the new flight time at 12:30. During lunch time, the last time shift to 13:30 was made. Now, we had to decide if we can turn the torpedo back into SMART-HELIOS within 1 h. The decision was made: now or never! Simultaneously, the torpedo was filled from both sides, connecting all the cables, screwed the sensors to its position and finally close the case. Afterwards, we had to balance SMART-HELIOS again, as we removed some parts of the broadband system for further troubleshooting. As ACTOS was already on his way, we had to hurry up to make it in time. Starting all routines, removing covers and after 50 minutes with only 5 minutes delay the helicopter started while we were happily walking back to the camp. Of course, we did find some new thing lying around on the wooden box, but everything except for the broadband sensors worked.
Daily time table
(photo: Matthias Gottschalk)
SMART-HELIOS ready for take off
(photo: Matthias Gottschalk)




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