WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR WEEK ENDING 8 OCTOBER 1999:
STANFORD HIGHLIGHT
The magnetometer team has successfully completed functional test of the 4
payload magnetometers and has held the acceptance review for this flight
hardware. Team members involved in this work included Sei Chun, Ernie
Iufer, Russ Leese, Jim Lockhart, and Dorrene Ross.
The cryogenics team has completed the first set of thermal measurements on
the GP-B payload. The configuration for these measurements was as follows:
the main liquid helium tank was at a temperature of 4.2 K, there was liquid
helium in the gaurd tank, and the well and probe were evacuated. The
purpose of these measurements was to help provide a better understanding of
unexpected temperatures found in the neck region of probe C. Team members
involved in this work included Jim Maddocks, Dave Murray, Mike Taber, and
Tom Welsh.
Photo: Probe C (the flight probe)
SPACE VEHICLE HIGHLIGHT
Preliminary tests of the Schenck Trebel Spin Balance Machine were
completed prior to its move from LMMS building 104 to temporary storage in
LMMS building 156. An 8300 pound weight was successfully spun at 30, 40,
and 60 RPM.
Photo: LMMS engineers Dave Martin, Bob Graham, Alan Merrick, Elliot Sonnenshine,
and Dennis St.Clair in the spin balance control room with the spin balance
table in the background.