WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR WEEK ENDING 20 APRIL 2001:
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED FAST SPIN OF GYRO #3
The payload test team has completed the post-acoustic checkout of gyroscope #3. The gyroscope met all requirements. The test included levitation,
exploration of the housing, slow spin (and spin down rate measurement), trapped flux measurement, and a high speed spin up test. The trapped flux
in gyroscope #3 following the post-acoustic flux flushing was 3 microgauss, thus meeting the trapped flux requirement with a 3X margin. The measured
asympotic spin speed as determined by the high speed spin up test was 174 Hz or approximately a factor of two better than the requirement.
Photo: The Stanford flight gyroscope rotors. Photo taken 3 years ago just before the science instrument assembly.
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED CM17
The GP-B Space Vehicle Teams successfully completed NASA milestone CM17:
Spacecraft Ready for Integration on 17 April 2001. The PDU, ACE, CCCA, and
SSR electronics boxes were re-installed on the spacecraft and confidence
tests were successfully performed.
Photo: LMSS Technician Bud Swihart with the re-installed PDU on the GP-B Spacecraft in the B/205 High Bay.
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ECU ENVIRONMENTAL TEST
The Forward and Aft ECU boxes have successfully completed environmental testing and are in LM B/205 being prepared for confidence testing
installation on the GP-B spacecraft.