![Click to enlarge](img/th_3977.jpg) | Matt blows the liquid nitrogen which was pre-cooling the liquid helium tank out of it (and hopefully into the liquid nitrogen tank). |
![Click toplay](img/th_3978.jpg) | Nitogen blowoff. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_3980.jpg) | Chris and Marie try to read a gauge on one of the helium dewars. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_3981.jpg) | Waiting around during a helium transfer. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_3982.jpg) | Marie helps Chris try to resuscitate his laptop's harddrive. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_3983.jpg) | The helium tankers roll out to the pad. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_3984.jpg) | After being abandoned by the rest of the crew, Matt, Chris and I hit up Shep's for lunch. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_3985.jpg) | Marco's lunch plan: avocado salad with guacamole on top. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_3992.jpg) | Marie's Birthdanniverstmas present. |
![Click to play](img/th_3993.jpg) | ARCADE heads out to the pad. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_3994.jpg) | ARCADE heads out to the pad. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_3995.jpg) | Sue and Catia return after a day of shopping. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_3996.jpg) | Birds wheeling around the top of the tower. |
![Click to play](img/th_3997.jpg) | Birds wheeling around the top of the tower. |
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![Click to Enlarge](img/th_pad.png) |
(4912x1112, 5799 kb) The view of rollout on the pad from the roof of the tower. ARCADE is at right
on The Boss. The balloon is still in its crate at left.
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![Click to enlarge](img/th_4004.jpg) | Receiver dishes on the top of the tower pointed at the pad. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4005.jpg) | The chase plane takes off from the airport. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4006.jpg) | The start of inflation. |
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![Click to Enlarge](img/th_inflation_1.png) |
(4026x1326, 5917 kb) Start of inflation. The top of the balloon is held down at this point.
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![Click to enlarge](img/th_4010.jpg) | The top of the balloon is released. |
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![Click to Enlarge](img/th_flightline.png) |
(11688x1216, 13900 kb) The flightline from the centre of the pad. The people at left are the ARCADE
scientists. (Everyone else is down below at the edge of the pad.)
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![Click to enlarge](img/th_4022.jpg) | ARCADEans waiting for launch. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4023.jpg) | Inflation. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4024.jpg) | Inflation. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4025.jpg) | Inflation. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4026.jpg) | Inflation. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4027.jpg) | Inflation. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4028.jpg) | Looking down the flightline. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4029.jpg) | Looking back at the tower. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4030.jpg) | Greg and Gaelen watch the launch. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4031.jpg) | Here I've adaped Gaelen's lens for use with my camera. It doesn't work quite as well. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4032.jpg) | Nearing the end of inflation. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4033.jpg) | Riggers attach the collar to the balloon. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4034.jpg) | Sue and Joel practice swordplay. |
![Click to play](img/th_4035.jpg) | Tying off the fill lines. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4036.jpg) | Spectators. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4037.jpg) | A pie ball high above the launch vehicle. |
![Click to play](img/th_4038.jpg) | Tiny Tim starts up. |
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![Click to Enlarge](img/th_inflation_2.png) |
(2694x1119, 3727 kb) With inflation complete, Chris scans the flightline, waiting for launch.
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![Click to enlarge](img/th_4041.jpg) | Pre launch. Note how the tied-off fill lines are blowing straight down the flightline. Perfect conditions for a launch. |
![Click to play](img/th_4042.jpg) | Launch of ARCADE. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4043.jpg) | ARCADE ascends. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4044.jpg) | ARCADE ascends. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4045.jpg) | Sue and Joe's swordfighting. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4046.jpg) | ARCADE ascends. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4047.jpg) | ARCADE ascends. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4048.jpg) | The riggers pack things up. |
![Click to enlarge](img/th_4049.jpg) | ARCADE ascends. |