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Gravity Probe B

Testing Einstein's Universe

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR WEEK ENDING 17 MARCH 2000:

STANFORD HIGHLIGHT
The Lockheed Martin Probe repair team has successfully completed the following operations on the 2 thermal repair validation assemblies.

  1. Thermal conduction and vacuum integrity tests.
  2. Prototypical insertion of pins.
  3. A repeat of the thermal and vacuum tests following the repairs.
  4. Axial load and random vibration tests.
  5. Vacuum integrity recheck following the axial load and random vibration test.
Following the successful completion of a few more tests during the next few days, the 2 validation assemlies will provide high confidence for a successful Probe C repair.

Photo: A close-up of the thermal repair pins referred to in step 2.

SPACE VEHICLE HIGHLIGHT
The Bond Pin Probe Repair Validation Unit successfully completed load testing in LMSS B/255. The next test scheduled for the unit is random vibration testing in LMSS B/151 in Sunnyvale.

Photo: LMSS Engineer Doug Pensiger with the Bond Pin Probe Repair Validation Unit during load testing in LMSS B/255.

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