Fabrication
With the launch date coming ever closer, we’ve been hard at work getting our P-Sat ready for its flight. Overnight, the chassis is finally in production. Wilhelm has the privilege of listening to the whirring and ticking noises made by the lab’s SLA 3D printer (known as Discreet Otter, for some reason), until 5am in the morning. Or until he leaves for the night.
Otter and Wilhelm working hard
Come to think of it. we never see him leave for the night… maybe he never leaves…
The Parts
This morning when we returned to the lab, Otter had completed the print. Two black shell pieces are perfectly finished1 and definitely do not require finishing because our CAD design was flawless2.
1Not perfectly finished
2Definitely do require finishing
The parts of the P-Sat frame
Upon seeing it, we (Riley) instantly came up with a name: The APSSSS Black Greg. Behold him.
Behold: The APSSSS Black Greg
With the frame complete, the P-Sat is ready for final assembly and testing.
It’s all here.
Some Words from The Team
Because we promised you some interviews with team members and never gave you any, here’s some questions and answers with the people that happened to be in the lab with me at the time of writing this:
Ainsley
Me: “Ainsley, give us some words about the upcoming launch”
Ainsley: “Hmm… highly… anticipated…”
Me: “Ainsley, what do you think of Black Greg”
Ainsley: “Black Greg? Did we decide on its final name already?”
Me: “uhh… Ainsley, what made you join the P-Sat programme?”
Ainsley: “I was held hostage, SOMEONE PLEASE HEL-”
Riley
Me: “Riley, give us some words about the upcoming launch”
Riley: “Gratifying, splendid, bombastic, scrumdiddlyumptious”
Me: “Riley, what do you think of Black Greg”
Riley: “It’s fantastic”
Me: “Riley, what made you join the P-Sat programme?”
Riley: “I wanted access to these labs”
Emma
Me: “Emma, give us some words about the upcoming launch”
Emma: *doesn’t hear me through her headphones*
Me: “Emma, what do you think of Black Greg”
Emma: *confused expression for some time* “it’s… mildly racist”
Me: “Emma, what made you join the P-Sat programme?”
Emma: “Can you please leave me alone I’m trying to study and listen to rain sounds on YouTube”
Wilhelm
Me: “Wilhelm, give us some words about the upcoming launch”
Wilhelm: redacted
Me: “Wilhelm, what do you think of Black Greg”
Wilhelm: redacted
Me: “Wilhelm, what made you join the P-Sat programme?”
Wilhelm: redacted
Jim
Me: “Jim, give us some words about the upcoming launch”
Jim: “It’s gonna be the best launch. We’re gonna make launches great again”
Me: “Jim, what do you think of Black Greg”
Jim: “I think it’s wonderful… what’s it look like I haven’t seen it”
Me: “Jim, what made you join the P-Sat programme?”
Jim: “I AM the P-Sat programme”