Mission to Cape Canaveral
Day 2: Visit to AMSAT's Phase-3D Lab

(The day's narrative has yet to be written.)

Pictures

The outside of the "Free Trade Zone" (US Customs) building at the Orlando Airport where the AMSAT Phase-3D Lab is one of the tenants. From outside, the only hint of AMSAT's presence is the OSCAR antennas on the roof. Where this picture was taken, the Orlando Airport ramp and runways were behind me.
The AMSAT Phase-3D satellite, viewed from outside the clean room. At the time this picture was taken, reinforment work was in progress in response to July 1997 changes in ESA specs on Ariane 5 launch stresses. The electronics which would have been installed around the perimeter of the spaceframe were removed and temporarily placed in a cabinet.
Phase-3D viewed from inside the clean room. This shows a better view of the six propellent tanks. Notice the clamps on the new rocket-motor mount (the concentric triangle structure in the middle) which was being installed at the time.
Another side view of P3D.
Closer view of the "front" of P3D. Another view of the six propellent tanks and the new rocket-motor mount.
In this picture, the bar across the middle with the three holes is a new brace that has just been installed.
This picture shows the cabinet where the electronics were temporarily relocated during the reinforcement work.
This shows another cabinet next to the one shown above where the coaxial cable was stored. I was told the silver-colored onces are some kind of aerospace-grade coax, capable of withstanding very high termperatures.
This shows a large check on the wall which must be from a ceremony presenting a donation from ARRL to AMSAT. It's signed by ARRL President Rod Stafford KB6ZV who, by the way, is a resident of San Jose, California.
"Back" of P3D.
In this picture, I am cleaning some newly-installed rivets to take a protective coating off them that is no longer needed now that they're installed.
"So, have you had your picture taken with the satellite yet?" I guess this is a privilege for helping out all evening.

Actually, by being in this picture I provide some scale for the satellite. :-) Just for reference, I'm 6'1".
And one more quick shot of me with the satellite. It's about 11PM. This one actually gives a good view of the propellant tanks, too.