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Gravity Probe B

Testing Einstein's Universe

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR WEEK ENDING 24 April 1998:

STANFORD HIGHLIGHT
Robert Brumley, David Hipkins, Chris Gray, and Bruce Clarke have completed the commissioning of gyroscope FQH46 with quartz rotor 95FH6. The asymptotic spin speed with Helium 4 was 112 Hz, representing a discrepancy from the test procedure requirement of 125Hz. The minimum T003 spin speed requirement of 100 Hz can be achieved with the baseline Science Mission spin-up procedure.

SPACE VEHICLE HIGHLIGHT
The Probe Composite Neck Tube (CNT) has completed extended load testing and seasonal load cycling. The CNT was loaded in compression at the maximum predicted on-orbit load for a period of 10 weeks. Following the ten week period the CNT compression load was cycled to represent two years of seasonal load variation. This test was a successful demonstration of the CNT long term structural stability under operational loads.

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