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Gravity Probe B

Testing Einstein's Universe

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR WEEK ENDING 29 SEPTEMBER 2000:

PAYLOAD HIGHLIGHT
The gyroscope test group has successfully completed the room temperature checkout of all four flight gyroscopes. The tests included a caging touch test, gyroscope suspension, cavity exploration, gyroscope spin down in the cavity center, and gyroscope spindown in the rotor spinup location. The flight probe is now in final preparations for the move to the cyrogenic operations area. The team members involved in this work are Rob Brumley, Ken Bower, Bruce Clarke, Chris Gray, David Hipkins, and Russ Leese.

Photo:
Please click the small photo to see an explanation of the remarkable change-out of Gyro #4

SPACE VEHICLE HIGHLIGHT
An engineering unit Remote Actuated Valve (RAV) was successfully tested on the GP-B spacecraft using both the A and B sides of the ACE. The RAV was commanded to close and then open. The valve open/close state was verified both visually and with telemetry. The RAV was exercised in all 4 locations on the flight harness during both ACE side A and side B testing.

Photo: LM Engineers Phillip Rittmuller, Paul Dulgov, and Jon Kirschenbaum with the GP-B spacecraft and RAV test setup in LM B/205.

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