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Gravity Probe B

Testing Einstein's Universe

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR WEEK ENDING 21 APRIL 2000:

PAYLOAD HIGHLIGHT
The Probe Repair Team has successfully completed the very important verification of the reworked heat exchanger #4. A thermal test shows that the reworked heat exchanger meets its thermal requirement. A thermal analysis based upon the test data (and assuming similar results for the remaining heat exchangers) shows that the on-orbit lifetime for the full system will meet the program requirement with margin. A vacuum test of the reworked heat exchanger meets the vacuum requirement with significant margin. The Lockheed Martin team under the leadership of Bill Reeve is to be commended for these excellent results.

Photo: Engineer Mike Sisley installing thermocouple wiring into the probe in preparation for thermal testing.

SPACE VEHICLE HIGHLIGHT
The Solar Array Deployment Mechanism (SADM) protoqual unit successfully completed thermal cycling in LMSS B/255.

Photo: LMSS Engineer Shawn Shelton in the SADM thermal/vacuum testing area in B/255.

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