SORCE Mission
Status
LASP
Activity -
With the launch date rapidly approaching, the SOC (Science
Operations Center) personnel are making significant progress
on science data systems for each SORCE instrument. Since
the instruments shipped to Orbital last spring, both science
and housekeeping telemetry have been accessed regularly
by scientists and engineers for use in reviewing instrument
performance and health. Currently they are scrupulously
monitoring the instrument test results and analyzing data.
The
current status of individual instrument process algorithm
is as follows: SOLSTICE algorithms are complete, and software
is now being debugged and tested with all components in
place. Data are being validated against UARS SOLSTICE data.
The theoretical definition of TIM and SIM algorithms has
advanced to allow software design and implementation in
preparation for the SORCE launch. XPS will utilize the exact
same TIMED software with the assistance of a small adapter
module.
Tom
Woods, XPS scientists, reviews the incoming data from SORCE.
The
big push is to be prepared for the Mission Operations Rehearsal
# 1 scheduled for 4 days, beginning September 30. This rehearsal
will require that all early orbit sun-pointing (no stellar
observations) algorithms and calculations be in place. This
rehearsal covers launch and spacecraft operations up to
the first 48 hours after launch. No science operations will
be addressed during this rehearsal. |
Countdown
to Launch - December 1
(as
of September 23, 2002)
A
second rehearsal scheduled for mid November will require
that all pointing algorithms and calculations be in place.
During
real-time spacecraft contacts, LASP maintains direct communication
with the spacecraft via ground stations sending commands,
and receiving and checking real-time telemetry. LASP will
communicate with SORCE via ground stations in Santiago,
Chile and Wallops Island, Virginia twice daily during
normal operations. The Mission Operations and Ground Station
plans are coming together with a focus on ensuring ground
station readiness for SORCE launch.
Dr.
Byron Smiley joined LASP in August to work on the SORCE
program. Byron is filling a post-doctoral position and
will initially work on the SIM data processing. While
a physics graduate student at CU, he worked with magnetically
shielded charged dust detectors on five sounding rockets.
Stop by his office (LSTB 215) to introduce yourself and
welcome him to LASP.
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