WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR WEEK ENDING 19 September 1997:
STANFORD HIGHLIGHT
Dr. Barry Muhlfelder, Dr. Jim Lockhart, and Ming Luo have
demonstrated in
GTU-2 the Science Mission (SM) level
functionality of the readout system,
including SQUIDs
and SQUID electronics. The testing, performed with SQUID
Readout Electronics (SRE) Rev C, has shown data meeting SM
noise
requirements. In addition, all payload electronic
systems, the Telescope
Readout Electronics (TRE), the
Gyroscope Suspension System (GSS), and the
Electronics
Control Unit (ECU) have been tested for Electromagnetic
Compatibility, (EMC), against the SRE with no discernible
change in the SRE
output (except for observing the ~35kHz
position bridge signal from the GSS
at expected and acceptable levels).
The successful EMC compatibility test
of the SRE and GSS
has been conducted by Dr. Gregory Gutt and his team, with
the
GSS performing in full SM mode. This included both the position
bridge
excitation and a comprehensive set of simulated SM
suspension signals,
channeled by the engineering unit flight
computer over the for to aft data
bus to the forward unit of
the GSS.
SPACE VEHICLE
HIGHLIGHT
A successful Command and Data handling Critical Design Review
(CDR) was
held at B.F. Goodrich in Albuquerque, New Mexico
on Sept. 11 and 12.
The flight equivalent units had been
delivered to LMMS in July and are
undergoing integration
with the flight computer in the Integrated Test
Facility
in B251.
The Dewar Axial Lock Failure Investigation Technical Team reported the results of their initial investigation to Stanford University on 8 September. The failure of the Dewar axial locks was identified as thread galling and reproduced in cryogenic laboratory testing. Additionally, the Team presented candidate "use as is" concepts. The Technical Team is now developing redesign solutions to preclude thread galling, and is evaluating the feasibility and potential impacts of the "use-as-is" options. These results will be presented to Stanford on 22 Sept.