WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR WEEK ENDING 19 OCTOBER 2001:
PAYLOAD READY FOR INTEGRATION WITH SPACECRAFT
The final preparations have been completed for the integration of the GP-B payload with the GP-B spacecraft. In the past week, numerous Space Vehicle
Assembly Tasks were performed. The GMA Plumbing was installed on the dewar and connected to the top hat of the Probe. Two additional Payload lifts were
conducted and measurements for final mating were made. In addition, for mass properties purposes, the entire Payload was weighed and measured for x-y CG
position. The 4 Aft GSS boxes were installed. The Aft SRE FEU was installed to support the upcoming GSS confidence test. The aft propulsion plumbing was
proof pressure and leak tested. The dewar main tank was serviced, and the resulting fill level is 57%. The plan is to mate the payload and
spacecraft within the next few days.
PROBE THERMAL REPAIR TEAM AWARDED NASA GROUP ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Probe Thermal Repair Team was awarded a NASA Group Achievement Award "for invaluable contributions to the highly successful and extremely
difficult thermal redesign and rework of the Gravity Probe B Flight Unit Probe assembly."
Photo: The Probe Thermal Repair Team accepting their NASA Group Achievement Awards in LM B/255 from Rex Geveden and Tony Lyons of Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Pictured are: Tony Lyons (MSFC), Gary Reynolds (LM), Dario Trevias (LM), Mike Sisley (LM), Eric Will (LM), Rich Whelan (LM), Russell Katz (LM), Jeff Vanden Beukel (LM), Kevin Burns (LM), and Rex Geveden (MSFC). Not pictured: Bruce Hoyman (LM)
GSS FLIGHT CONFIGURATION WITH COMPUTER DEMONSTRATES GYRO LEVITATION
The GSS EU successfully demonstrated 24 hours of uninterrupted gyro test bed levitation and operation. The engineering unit was operating with the
220 Hz flight-like code. This recently reoptimized code consumed an impressively low 45 % of the processor duty cycle.
SRE THERMAL CYCLING TEST IS UNDERWAY
The SRE system has begun thermal cycling tests in a thermal vacuum chamber. The test consists of exposing the SRE system to repeated cold/hot cycles.
A thermal sensitivity test at roll frequency was completed. A box test anomaly is under investigation.