|
SORCE
October 2001 Project Summary
The EOS SORCE Mission experienced noteworthy progress in
all areas during the month of October 2001. The SORCE Mission
is still on schedule and within budget. A launch date of
July 31, 2002 is anticipated. At present all LASP and Orbital
SORCE schedules are success oriented. Further hindrances,
(i.e. the unforeseen replacement of inferior diodes and
power converters) to current schedules could impact launch
date. However, if the October 2001 work pace is sustained
and instrument calibration, test and integration go smoothly,
the SORCE Mission schedule may be maintained. As always
SORCE plans are reviewed and adjusted on a daily basis to
meet program needs.
SORCE
System Status
The SORCE MIWG (Mission Integration Working Group) was held
at KSC (Kennedy Space Center) October 23-24, 2001. A SORCE
TIM (Technical Interchange Meeting) was held October 1,
2001. During the MIWG and the SORCE TIM the SORCE Pegasus
rocket was evaluated, and SORCE "gyroless" flight
status finalized. The SORCE rocket fairing passed electronic
inspection and is considered flight suitable. Some minor
problems were discovered on the SORCE rocket, however. Tie-bases
in the aft skirt had debonded. Investigation is underway
to determine the cause of the debonding. Inadequate surface
abrasion prior to bonding and poor bonding material may
have contributed to the problem. Tie-bases will be replaced
and installed with a new process and adhesive. The Pegasus
fin actuator system failed during thermal cycle. The probable
cause was debris on the connector pins. The fin actuator
systems will be inspected, retested and recertified. Fortunately,
these processes present no schedule impact to the SORCE
launch vehicle.
SORCE team members may attend the HESSI launch in mid-December
2001 and the GALEX launch in May 2001 in preparation for
the SORCE launch. The next SORCE MIWG is scheduled at LASP
in mid January 2002 to coincide with the SORCE IM (Instrument
Module) Preship Review. SORCE power, mass and memory budgets
remain healthy and confidence increases as more actual measured
values replace the calculated values.
SORCE
Instrument Status
XPS Instrument
The
XPS instrument is complete and integrated on the SORCE IM
(Instrument Module).
|
TIM
Instrument
The TIM instrument build has been nearly complete for some
time. Modifications to improve TIM performance are designed,
built and incorporated on the instrument as they become
evident. A case in point is the new semi-kinematic mounting
base plates recently retrofit to the TIM instrument. In
addition, TIM door position sensor slots have been lengthened
to prevent overshoot when the door opens. The TIM door now
senses its position properly. The four TIM door windows
now possess superior seals, and the TIM instrument now holds
a vacuum quite well. The PCB (Printed Circuit Board) thermistor
has been moved to the rear wall of the TIM housing for improved
performance.
TIM
has logged over 500 hours of lab operation time and also
has been integrated and run on the SORCE IM several times.
TIM now has all flight electrical parts installed and successfully
completed vibration on Nov. 6. Still remaining is the replacement
of the vacuum door motor gearboxes with wet-lubed gearboxes.
TIM calibrations are well underway. Irradiance and power
are being measured as well as possible. All available TIM
cones are being measured for reflection. The calibrated
gain as a function of temperature is also calculated. A
solar simulator provides approximate solar intensity for
measuring relative irradiance. "Absolute power"
measurements are in progress by comparison to a trapped
|
