WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR WEEK ENDING 27 AUGUST 1999:
STANFORD HIGHLIGHT
Payload Test Phase A continued this week with the successful completion of
the checkout of the telescope readout system (the TRE and the two DPAs).
In addition, artifical star #3 was installed and successfully detected by
the telescope readout system. The gyroscope cable capacitances were
measured. The UV charge control system was operated on each gyroscope and
gave nominal performance. The team members involved in this work include
Rob Brumley, Bruce Clarke, Howard Demroff, Paul Ehrensberger, Bob Farley,
and Chris Gray.
The Gyro Suspension System (GSS) group under the leadership of Dr. Bill
Bencze and Dr. David Manner has successfully suspended a gyroscope with
it's engineering unit (flight-like) electronics, and the C40 DSP. This
test verifies that the flight form of the Bridge and High Voltage
Amplifiers function properly under the most severe conditions. This is a
major milestone, since the Bridge/HVA module is by far the most complicated
assembly in the GSS. This combination of 1-G lift capability and use of
the Gyro Testbed will allow for comprehensive testing of all operational
modes of the GSS. This very important achievement is the result of a
group-wide effort, and is due in particular to the outstanding efforts of:
Mike Eglington, Jay Dusenbury, Danny Gross, and Sharon Williams.
Photo: Artificial Star #3 on the crane during transit to the
probe/dewar assembly.
Large Photo (click small to view): Ted Acworth adjusting the mounting of the Artificial Star
onto the probe's telescope window.
SPACE VEHICLE HIGHLIGHT
The flight control gyroscopes have completed phasing confidence tests in
B/205. The gyros were temporarily mounted adjacent to the spacecraft and
measured earth rate in high and low mode. The motor current, gyro wheel
supply voltage, and temperature control monitors for each gyro were
verified.
Photo: LMMS engineers Jon Kirschenbaum and Paul Dulgov preparing to test one of the
flight control gyroscopes in B/205.