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Gravity Probe B

Testing Einstein's Universe

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR WEEK ENDING 13 JULY 2001:

SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED NASA MILESTONE CM-20
The payload test team successfully completed the phase B checkout of the SRE, ECU, TRE, and GSS. SRE SQUID performance, ECU thermometry and heater measurements, TRE operation and communication, and EMC testing of the GSS, TRE, ECU, and SRE were all successfully performed and completed. Following these tests the SRE system was returned to Lockheed Martin for completion of its acceptance testing.

Photo: The electronics boxes on the payload during testing.

MISSION OPERATIONS TEAM PERFORMS SUCCESSFUL SIMULATION 2B
The Mission Operations Team successfully executed Simulation 2B on July 11. The simulation walked the flight team through the first 10 hours of the mission. The Integrated Test Facility was used to simulate the spacecraft and payload boxes, and the Mission Operations Center at Stanford did all the mission planning, commanding, real-time health and safety, and data analysis. This was the first simulation to include the mission planning team and the first to test anomaly resolution. The simulation director, Bill Given, came up with six anomalies for the flight team to respond to. Combined with the usual unexpected anomalies, the simulation gave a thorough and challenging exercise to the entire team. Lessons learned will be tracked to improve procedures and processes in flight operations.

Photo: The Mission Ops team during Simulation 2B. Small Photo: Jim Arballo, Alan Duvall, Marcie Smith, and Ruth O-Loughlin working on the Mission Timeline.
Large Photo (Click small to view): Ric Campo, Travis Percell, Ruth O-Loughlin, Raul Corral, Jennifer Mullins, and Ron Sharbaugh operating the space Vehicle and performing TCAD data reduction.

SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ADR FOR SARM AND ALRM
The GP-B team successfully completed the Acceptance Data Review for Solar Array Release Mechanism (SARM) serial numbers 002, 004, 005, 006, 007, 008 and ARP Launch Restraint Mechanism (ALRM) serial numbers 001, 002, 003.

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