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Gravity Probe B

Testing Einstein's Universe

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR WEEK ENDING 16 October 1998:

STANFORD HIGHLIGHT
Under the direction of Dr. Mike Taber, a cryotest of Probe C and the flight dewar has been completed. Removal of the probe from the dewar is now scheduled for tomorrow (10/15/98). This cryotest verified the thermal characteristics of the BPS system. In addition, a check of all cabling within the probe was successfully completed. Next, the probe will be removed from the dewar so that integration of the flight payload into the probe can begin. Photo: Probe C

SPACE VEHICLE HIGHLIGHT
The Relativity Mission Thruster Isolation Valve (TIV) has successfully completed qualification testing. There will be sixteen TIVs on the space vehicle, and they are operated by ground command. Each TIV shuts off gas flow to a Helium thruster in the event of a thruster anomaly. The first flight unit TIV has completed fabrication and is scheduled to begin acceptance testing this month. Photo: The Relativity Mission Thruster Isolation Valve Engineering Team: Hank Hancock, Rose Lalanne, Jason Suchman, and Mark Molini.

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