Last week we moved the spacecraft to building 7 and continued ACS and other testing. This week we removed the WIE box for some additional electro-magnetic interference (EMI) testing, while ACS and pyro testing continued. The WIE was re-installed today. We haven't seen any trouble at the spacecraft level, but some of the WIE's noise on its power leads was higher than expected during box-level testing. We re-ran the test in a different facility to confirm the results. We are still investigating whether these results are acceptable.
Also this week, the +x solar array is scheduled to complete its 8 cycles of thermal vacuum tomorrow. After removing the array from the vacuum chamber, we will perform another flash test to verify that the array performance hasn't degraded. The -x solar array is complete. After its flash test on Saturday, it will begin its 8 cycles of thermal vacuum.
The (formerly) TRACE transponder has been repaired (the power amplifier had detuned over time). After reassembly, the transponder will undergo a series of tests prior to integration on the WIRE spacecraft. The (formerly) WIRE transponder was checked out by Loral on February 8th and installed on the TRACE spacecraft on February 10th.
The earth sensor has arrived and will be installed today. Star tracker delivery is expected the end of next week or early the first week in March. Once the solar arrays, transponder, earth sensor, and star tracker are integrated, the spacecraft will be ready for environmental testing.
The photo shows Giulio Rosanova and Jim Byrd installing the cover
of the WIRE spacecraft shipping container just before we moved the
spacecraft from building 5 to building 7. The spacecraft spends most
of its time on the dolly which is the bottom of the shipping container.
Next week we will run dynamic simulations and an operations test.
Previous updates:
August 18, 1997
October 20, 1997
October 31, 1997
November 7, 1997
November 14, 1997
November 21, 1997
December 5, 1997
December 23, 1997
January 9, 1998
January 16, 1998
January 23, 1998
January 30, 1998
February 6, 1998