More Monday Nuts & Bolts…

Here are some more pictures from today’s work…

This first picture is of a reusable breakaway link, a safety device attaching the kilometer-long steel cable that the climbers will be ascending/descending to the helicopter.  It has a rated release point of 3,500 pounds.  This means that in the unlikely event where the helicopter is pulling on the cable with that much force (or more), then the link will separate and the helicopter will be free of the tether.

Of course, if that happens, the cable and anything that might be on it (like a Climber) is going to fall.  All of the teams and the NASA and Spaceward personnel will be inside trailers, protected from falling debris.  However, the person operating the winch (which pays out and retracts the steel cable) is out in the open.  And that’s the subject of this next picture.  An overhead shelter is being built for the winch operator.  This picture is of the ceiling for that shelter.  The combination of chain-link fence, 2×4′ and plywood should keep the operator safe.

And this last picture is of the KC Space Pirates crew, enjoying a bit of lunch.  They’re hard workers – I guess they’ve earned it 🙂

Tomorrow or Wednesday should see the arrival of at least 2 more of the teams.  Also, the filming crew from the Chicago video production company Bitter Jester Creative, Inc. will be arriving tonight.  This group has been filming the competition and the participants and the organizers for the past few years.  While certainly interested in he technical coolness of these games, they are focusing on the human element.  I think their final product is going to be fascinating…

(Click on any of the picture thumbnails for a larger version)