16.00  Intro to Aerospace Engineering & Design

Dear 16.00 Class-
I have read all the portfolios and am very pleased with the results. The portfolios are ready for pickup. You have been a great class, and I wish you all well in Course 16 or wherever you end up. Have a great summer.

(Reminder: for those of you who don't pick up your portfolios before leaving MIT for the summer, I will keep them in my office until the next 16.00 class starts in February, 2009.)

The Cooper Harper rating scale is in the "Lectures" section of the class web site.

The schedule for tomorrows flight day will be the same as last week with one minor change.  To facilitate the 'flow' of balloons, we will use the following rules:
-one member from each team will wait in line for a balloon.
-Once you have a balloon, you may drop it off to your team and reenter the line.
This will reduce the time it takes for all the teams to get balloons.  Those in line may be asked to assist the TA's with filling the balloons.

Some things to keep in mind in addition to the flight characteristics of your LTA:
-Are there any extra components that just add weight?
-Will the batteries selected provide too much or too little energy for one lap?
-How is it best to assist the pilot with navigating the course?
-How should the pilot approach controlling the LTA to go fast but still under control?
-How easy is it to weigh your LTA?

Anything can be used as payload mass on your LTA.  Teams are responsible for thier own payload mass and to have sufficient quanitiy to trim your LTA.  The only requirements are that there can only be two "things" that will be counted as payload mass, such as two plastic bags full of weights.  Previous years ideas include:
-Fishing weights (some can be found in the 16.00 cabinet)
-Water/water bottles (please do not pour water onto the track)
-sand (there is a bag next to the charging station, please do not pour this on the track or the lab floor)
-pennies (small discrete weights)
-camera (makes for interesting video footage)
-wallet (everyone hopefully saw the video.  I do not reccomend it)

To prevent the loss of a full balloon, balloons must be attached using a large bull clip to the LTA.  If a balloon is lost during flight, the balloon will begin to loose helium and will be recoverable.  Facilities does not like finding full balloons in the rafters of the gym.

LTA's are required to have a tether at all times when flying.  One team member must have a hand on the tether at all times.  The tether must connect to the balloon bull clip(s), to a major structural member of the LTA, and to the primary payload mass.  This will prevent the loss/drop of a tied off balloon, the LTA, and a heavy mass of payload.  Keep in mind that you are allowed two payload 'bags' of mass, one primary and one trimming mass.