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Gravity Probe B

Testing Einstein's Universe

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR WEEK ENDING 18 July 1997:

STANFORD HIGHLIGHT
Dr. Doron Bardas and his team have successfully completed all room temperature tests of Probe B with its Science Instrument Assembly for GTU-2. The probe is being moved to the integrated testing area, marking the beginning of cryogenic operations for GTU-2 on 7/18/97.

SPACE VEHICLE HIGHLIGHT
PAYLOAD HIGHLIGHT

A meeting was held with personnel from the ATC Artificial Intelligence Center on 8 July at the GP-B Integrated Test Facility to discuss potential applications of satellite control automation technology for GP-B mission support. The AI Center is developing this technology in support of the NASA CSOC procurement effort and for future commercial opportunities. The conclusion from this initial meeting was that it could be mutually beneficial for both parties -- GP-B and the AI Center. The first 40 days of the GP-B mission timeline is very intense, with over 300 events identified to date, and this will require some form of automation.

SPACECRAFT HIGHLIGHT

Flight Equivalent Units (FEUs) of the Solid State Recorder (SSR) and the Command and Telemetry Unit (CTU) have been integrated into the Integrated Test Facility (ITF) in building 251. Data has been successfully passed through the Front End Processor, the Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) interface and the FEUs.

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