calmOverall, this latest Icebreaker drill prototype is less hearty and more requiring of maintenance than its CRUX predecessor. This is a useful result from testing, and gives us valuable information as regarding both fault symptoms and what design changes would be required in order to fly this thing.
This morning I went back to last year's drill area and used a 2kW Hilti hammer-drill to drill alongside the shaft lost last summer... it wasn't enough to loosen it. I really need a winch or some other means to pull it loose. Meanwhile, Bolek is repairing the Icebreaker drill, replacing motor supports and re-tightening fasteners.
I'm hoping to resume tests this afternoon, and get the remaining baseline test goals accomplished by the end of today. We're in good shape schedule-wise, and may go get some samples in the crater tomorrow (instead of drilling tests). Weather is still sunny and dry and low-50s midday, but rain is expected later this week as we prepare to pull out.
