Skip navigation

Gravity Probe B

Testing Einstein's Universe

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR WEEK ENDING 31 MAY 2002:

SPACE VEHICLE INTEGRATION AND TEST CONTINUES
Three of four forward GSS boxes have been connected to their tophat connectors. The final forward GSS box will be connected to the tophat following the installation of the guard tank vent line. A functional test was run on the ECU (the SRE and GSS functional tests were run the previous week). The vatterfly test was performed. An associated test anomaly is in-work. The anomaly will likely have no effect on service.

DRY RUN OF SOLAR ARRAY FIRST MOTION TEST
The GP-B Team successfully completed a dry run of the Solar Array First Motion Test utilizing the Flight Spare Solar Array. The Array was mounted to the +X+Y (90 degree) SADM location and its weight offloaded using a helium balloon. Several test release events were performed using the SADM stow tool GSE. The flight SADM damper was installed, and the spare array was held in position and released from its snubbers by hand, allowing the First Motion Solar Array Restraint GSE to be tested. A second dry run for the -X+Y (25 degree) SADM position is scheduled for 6/4/02.

Photo: GP-B Team Members Bud Swihart and Sean McCully (both in manlift) and Mike Schermerhorn preparing for the release of the Flight Spare Solar Array using the flight SADM Damper in the LM B/159 High Bay. Operation is supervised by Dennis St.Clair (in chair).

ACOUSTIC TEST PRE-TRR HELD
A review was held of the analysis and hardware configuration relevant to the upcoming space vehicle acoustic test. MSFC, Lockheed Martin, and Stanford participated in the review. Approximately 20 action items resulted from the discussion.

<<Previous Highlight      Next Highlight>>

Index of Highlights