Jukkasjärvi (Meeting place)

Although today was a US holiday, it was all work at Esrange. The weather is clearing but windy, with a likely balloon launch opportunity for AESOP on Friday. The ULDB test flight would follow soon after. The next step in flight preparations was to being installing electronics and valves on the large "apex plate". This 4ft round 3/4 inch thick aluminum plate is integral to the top of the new "superpressure" balloon structure being tested. It's heavy enough to require a temporary "tow balloon" to lift it before the main balloon is inflated. One purpose of the electronics is to receive commands to cut the tow balloon away before flight. The bulk of the electronics controls the helium valves and sends back vital information, such as the difference in pressure inside/outside the balloon and the tension forces on a few of the 200+ hightech fiber "tendons".
Here are two picture of Stratodude attaching the squib-firing box and the valve subassemblies (which are also used to fill the 260ft diameter balloon). Extra care is taken to prevent objects from falling into the balloon material (tools, fasteners, jewelery, small children, etc). Speaking of that, there was a tour group of Swedish kids today at Esrange. Rockets and balloons in the Arctic are "mycket coolt"!

After work, I drove the rental Toy(ota) truck to the nearest town to buy some milk (mjölk). It's about a 15 minute drive from Esrange to Jukkasjärvi, population 541, on the Torne River. The town has a church built around 1600 and is the site of a Saami village that predates the Swedish settlement. Here are a few pictures of the town. It is famous around the world for its Ice Hotel which is rebuilt every year (the melted remains are still there!).