November 8, 2008 @3:30 PM
We have completed the following: Installation of the LVA cold ring,
installation of the Star Tracker Stimulus with heaters and thermocouples, installation LOLA shower head with heaters and thermocouples, but without the fiber optic cables; they will be installed on Monday, additional thermocouples were installed on the propulsion system cat bed heaters.
At this point we are still working on modifications to the Solar Array Gimbal thermal hardware; we are removing some blankets, installing Kapton tape on the harness and adding some heaters to the gimbal assembly. This activity will consume the remainder of the day. Other blanket work is going on in parallel to this task.
There is no work scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday 11/9/2008; we will resume chamber break activities on Monday morning, 11/9/2008.

Status 11/8 @9:30am

Completed the installation of the LVA cold ring. Currently we are installing the blanket over the test connector panels, TCs to the catbed heaters and the Star Tracker OGSE.

The SAS power harness has been secured to the enclosure by Brian.

Other things on the docket today include installing the LOLA GSE and opening up the blanket on the SAS gimbal and installing TCs.

Status 11/7 @10:30pm

We have completed the installation of the test harnesses, including the RF cables and the battery GSE rack.

Start of the LVA cold ring installation is 7am Saturday morning.

Status 11/7 @ 8:30pm

So far we have managed to open the chamber door, perform the radiation test, remove the radiation source, remove the enclosure panels, install the catwalks, certify the battery GSE rack, open blankets around the LVA and test connector panel; and install some of the thruster covers.

Still need to remove the test connector panel cover, test the pyro valve NSIs, safe to mate the battery GSE interface and install the test connectors.

Plan for Saturday.

Here is the plan for Saturday.

- NO POWERED WORK.
We can’t work on the SAS gimbal and do testing at the same time. We will try to resume powered testing on Monday
- Install lower thruster covers. 7a
- Install LVA cold ring. 7a
- Install RF cable. 9a
- Install Star Tracker GSE. 8:30a
- Install LOLA GSE. 9a
- Install heaters & TCs on GSE. (after GSE installed)
- Work on SAS gimbal harness. 7a (all day)
- Install TCs near catbed heaters. (after cold ring installed)

Current Plans for tonight.

We started to backfill the chamber at 1:00 today. We should be ready to open the door around 4pm.

- 4pm -5p: Radiation Safety enters chamber to remove source/take sample & let us know we are clear to enter the chamber.

- 5p: Chamber & Blanket folks go in to remove enclosure panels.

- Contamination removes witness plates

- Blanket folks make access for installation of the LVA cold ring and access to the Connector Test Panel.

- Mechanical and /or Chamber folks install +X and –X cat walks. (around 7p???)

- Mechanical to remove Test connector panel cover.

- Electrical folks to help prop test NSIs

- Electrical folks to configure test connector panel.

- Battery GSE STM.

- Chamber folks to remove TCs at –X end.

- SAS Gimbal blanket mods start

Door opening now estimated to be around 3pm.

Waiting for the payload table (the platform the spacecraft is sitting on) to get warmer. Then about 2 hrs to backfill chamber.

Waiting to open the door.

Looks like we won't be able to open the chamber door until around lunch time. Could be as late as 1p-2p. :-(

All Lro payload instruments have been powered off

As of 4:30 PM today, 11/06/2008, all LRO Payload Instruments were powered off. We are in the process of dumping data, returning the thermal vacuum chamber to ambient temperature and pressure. This process will continue until early in the morning. We expect to be able to enter the chamber after lunch tomorrow 11/7/2008, to start the reconfiguring of the orbiter, EGSE and blanketing for the Thermal Vacuum Cycling test.

Plan for tonight.

We are currently going to ambient temperature. Current estimate is we will get there around midnight. Sometime tonight, when the shroud gets to -10 to 0 deg, we will power down the spacecraft. After we get to ambient temperature, we will begin to backfill the chamber which could take another 8 hours. That means, we could be ready to open the chamber door by 8a-9a Friday morning.

8am tag up in B7 Rm246 to go over the ToDo List. Use the normal meet-me telecon number if you can't make it.

Going Ambient!

At 11am today, we ran sc_thermalcfg("K") to start the transition to ambient temperatures.  The thermal fixture was set to 20C (it'll take a while to get there), the shroud is set to -100C, and the cold finger is on.  We're spinning the wheels up, holding, then spinning them down in the opposite direction, and taking LROC images in the background.

"We do not claim that the portrait we present here is a true one, only that it comes close."  Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

TB-49, -50, -52, -53 all complete; waiting to transition to ambient temp

All cold soak testing is complete:

TB49 Orbiter Trending

TB50 LROC Fill imaging

TB52 Ka-Comm Functional

TB53 LROC Cold Soak imaging

We're ready to move onto the transition to ambient temperature as soon as we hear from Galileo via E-mail about the Star Tracker anomaly. Diviner anomaly from previous evening has been resolved.  Currently performing a special Mini-RF calibration while wait to hear from Galileo.

TB-47 RW Spin down complete

TB-47 The RW Spin down test is complete. RW3 finished first by more than a length and RW1 came in last. The LROC light and dark procedure tests are also complete. The Ka-com test (TB-52) is continuing. We expect to run orbiter trending around the shift change.

TBr2 Ka Band functional continues

As we enter the second shift on 11/05/2008(1600-2400), the Ka Band Functional Test (TB-52)continues, in parallel with TB-52 were are performing the LROC WAC imaging test and re-running TB-47 RWA run down test.

We expect these activities to take at least 6 hours.
Thermal engineering has advised us that the #1 cold soak requirment has been fullfilled, therefore once we complete the remaing subsystem tests, we can prepare for the transition to ambient temperature and pressure TB55.

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!
"Charge for the guns!" he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
-Alfred lord Tennyson

R.Richardson

Afternoon Plans

It's now 12:45 on November 5, and we're running TB-48, S-Band Functional.  Our plan for this afternoon:

1. Start TB-52 Ka-Comm Functional

   a. While TB-52 is ongoing, rerun TB-47 RW Spin Down Test.

      i. During long (> 1hr) wheel spin down times, run WAC light/dark test (0.5 hr each, can be completed within TB-52)

   b. Once TB-47 is done, run TB-50 LROC B/G imaging (fill)

   c. Once TB-50 is done, run TB-51 CSS Functional

   d. Once TB-51 is done, run TB-53 LROC B/G Imaging (cold soak)

2. Once TB-52 is done, run TB-46 Dump Orbiter Data

3. Once TB-46 is done, run TB-49 Orbiter Trending.

So, we're going to run STOL procs in parallel with the Ka-Comm Functional, then use Ka to dump data, then do trending.

We'll probably start TB-52 around 1pm local, then finish somewhere between 7pm and 9pm.  TB-47 will start by 1:30 local, and be done 4-4:30pm.  TB-51 would start soon after that.

"Setting a goal is not the main thing.  It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan." - Knute Rockne

2008 LRO Halloween Costume Contest Results

The results have been tabulated and checked by PwC....the Winner is.....
Adam Matuszeski as the Laser Ranger!!!
2nd place is Joanne Baker as LRO,
3rd Place is Tom Spitzer as ????,
4th Place is Brooke Hsu and Heather Weir as the Knights that go Nii!!
Congrats to all who entered, it was nice to see your true natures....

Stay tuned for our next contest during our Inferno Descent.

Correction: TB-45 Okay. Need to rerun the LROC Special Test.

My bad. We are going to rerun a few LROC images, not the functional during the RWA Spin Down Test.

Currently in TB-48 S-Band Testing

We are currently running TB-48, the S-Band test. Due to a proc error, we need to rerun TB-45, the LROC Functional and TB-47, the RWA Spin Down tests. During the LROC functional, the data path was not switched to LROC from MRF, and not data was recorded. During the RWA spin down test, the over ride timing ran out and the FSW started to spin up the wheels before the end of the test. Oops...

Plan is to finish the S-band test (about 12 noon) and then rerun the RWA Spin Down Test and parts of the LROC test in parallel.

“Computers have enabled people to make more mistakes faster than almost any invention in history, with the possible exception of tequila and hand guns” Mitch Ratcliffe

LROC special testing and TB-45 complete

Still at cold soak, we completed the special testing requested by ASU to validate the LROC WAC INIT file update we uploaded this morning, and then completed the LROC Functional Test. As of Wed 4:30 AM local, we are now starting TB-46, Dump Orbiter Data, followed by the RWA Spin-down test and the S-band functional, which should take us up to late morning on Wednesday.

TB-44 Payload Functional - complete!

TB-44 - Payload Functional - is complete.  We lost some time due to a test anomaly on the Diviner actuators (current draw vs commanded position) which we needed to troubleshoot a bit with JPL before moving on.  Diviner will be left powered up in SAFE mode pending next troubleshooting step. There were no other new new anomalies specifically related to the Payload Functional.

"I have to stay functional until my mission is complete.  Then it doesn't matter."

The Terminator, T2: Judgment Day (1991)

TB-44 still going

The payload functional continues to progress, almost 6 hours so far and it has at least another 1/2 hour to go. Still expecting LROC functional and RW spin-down test during this shift and S-band functional after midnight, maybe between 2AM and 3AM.

Look to the future because that's where you'll spend the rest of your life. George Burns (1896 - 1996)

TB-44 underway

We're about an hour into TB-44, the Payload Functional, expected to complete between 8:00 and 9:00 tonight. After this will be LROC functional (TB-45), dumping data (TB-46), and Reaction Wheel Spindown (TB-47). The S-band functional (TB-48) is expected to start sometime after midnight.

Barbicane waited until half an hour had elapsed, which was more than enough to allow the instrument to fall to the level of the surrounding temperature.
From the Earth to the Moon, Jules Verne, 1865

Could Start Cold Soak around 2:30pm

Current estimate is that we will declare cold soak around 2:30pm. The first activity once we start cold soak is the Payload Integrated Functional.

11/04/08 1:45pm: Heading For Cold Soak in TB-42

We continue to approach cold soak as we await LEND and NAC temperatures to flatten. Current best estimate for declaring start of soak is no sooner than 3:30pm, at which time we will roll right into TB-43 and TB-44 (Payload Integrated Functional).

Counting (schedule) chickens before they hatch

Just after the previous post, we ran into an anomaly that cost a couple of hours in the schedule.  A reaction wheel condition-check caused a series of RTSes to trip that among other consequences powered off all of the Instruments. 

We re-ran the Instrument powerup section from the Cold-Start proc to get back into the proper powered configuration, and as of 6:45 AM we're back into the SC-trending proc.

After completing the SC-trending proc, we'll configure for Cold Soak and drive the temps to the soak condition.

This nominally would push the start of the Payload Functional back to around 14:00 or so. Please check back either here on the blog or on the 6-8291 hotline for an update around lunchtime.

"Master Luke, Sir, it's so good to see you fully functional again. R2 expresses his relief also" - C3P0

11/04 4:30 EST: TB-40 Orbiter Cold Start is complete!

Took a bit longer than predicted but Orbiter Cold Start is complete and we are now in TB-41, Orbiter trending.

Two anomalies during the cold start will need further followup: Trackers at powerup didn't want to go into standby, and one of the four LEND external sensor heaters didn't enable as expected until they had been hard-commanded ON.  Both will result in PRB-reports.

Still too early to predict the start time of the Payload Functional.

"It's always darkest just before it goes pitch black" - Senator John McCain, quoting Chairman Mao

T-Vac Status 1:05am 11.04.2008

We are currently still in TB-40 Cold Start. A problem was encountered with Star Tracker #1 (PR692), the problem being ST1 cannot be put in Standby Mode as the proc commands and cycles back to Init mode. Some time was spent investigating this to see if the problem was bus voltage or temperature dependent, with no joy. ST2 behaved nominally. At this point progress thru TB-40 has resumed with CRaTER power up. This will be followed by Orbiter Trending (TB-41) and Cold Soak #1 (TB-42,43) and then the Payload Integrated Functional (TB-44) NET 8:00am on 11.04.2008.

ACS is now investigating and maintaining PR692.

Beyond the mountains there are mountains again - Haitian proverb

TB-40 is about 2 hours behind

TB-40 (Cold Start) was scheduled from 9PM to 10PM. It is now 11:30, and it still has not completed. Still pending ST#1 and instrument power-on. Check back, I'll update this blog.

Propulsion Cold Fire Test Ongoing

TB-38 is ongoing. Orbiter Cold Start (TB-40) should begin about 8:50pm. That puts the long awaited Payload Integrated Functional (TB-44) about 4:56am

For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn? - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1811

Internet Explorer Issue Fixed

Apparently some Gadgets make IE unhappy. Posters should test their additions if they've done something fancy with their IE after posting. Routine update words, pictures seem fine so no need to test those.

Problem if you use Internet Explorer

Something is now causing problems for people trying to see the BLOG with IE (so please tell your friends to try FireFox or Chrome for the moment). I will look into it.

T-Vac Status - 11/3/08 @ 11:00am

Thermal declared survival balance at 10:30am this morning. We are currently in our 4 hour wait. Survival balance should be complete at 2:30pm, TB-36 will finally be done.

At that time, we will move onto TB-37 and TB-38 which will configure for and perform the propulsion cold fire test. TB-37 & TB-38 is expected to take ~5 hrs


Without change, something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken.
- Frank Herbert.

At 7am still at TB-36

We are looking at maybe just maybe (Don't take my word for it) TB-38 Propulsion Cold Fire late afternoon early evening. Best bet we will know more by noon

"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain" Lily Tomlin

 

Instrument teams - no powerups imminent

For the Instrument teams supporting either on-site or at home via realtime telemetry streams - as you can tell, reaching the TB-36 Cold Survival Balance point is taking longer than expected.  This also pushes out the subsequent Propulsion Cold Fire test prior to the Instrument powerups for TB-40 - Orbiter Cold Start, with the Payload Functional happening about a shift later.

Matt is recommending that the Instrument teams check in to this blog or the 301-286-8291 hotline around mid-day to get a better forecast on when TB-40 is likely to occur.  Doesn't seem probable until evening.

"I hate waiting".

Inigo Montoya, "The Princess Bride"

TB-36 Cold Survival Balance continues

We continue to cool off and move toward equillibrium. TB-37 and TB-38 (Cold Fire Prop Test) will happen no sooner than 1st shift on Monday 11/3.

"We’re waiting for Godot.", Samuel Beckett

"The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time", James Taylor

"Man, if she don't get here soon, I'm going to have to wait some more", Cheech Marin

TB-36: Waiting for Cold Survival Balance

One brave thermal person (name withheld to protect the innocent), ventured to guess that we would reach survival temps sometime tomorrow morning.

“All human wisdom is summed up in two words - wait and hope” Alexandre Dumas Père

Are we there yet (revised)?

TB-35 is here to stay

We are still waiting for a few more heaters to trip. So we may be here for a while.

TB-35 Still going and going and going

You might find this hard to believe but The Cold Survival Transitioning will be taking longer than the four hours.We are waiting for the LEND heater to trip. This may occur by the 0800. lol After that, it will have to trip several more time to complete the duty cycle plot. Then we can move to TB-36. ♦

“A yawn may not be polite, but at least it is an honest opinion”

Instrument survival heaters kicking on - so far so good

The Big Chill continues.  

Instrument survival heaters have already kicked on for the following:

CRaTER, DLRE, LAMP, LOLA

...looks like a few hours to go for LROC and several more beyond that for LEND.  So far the behavior is tracking what we saw in the eclipse simulation a couple of nights ago.

So far so good. 

Still waiting at TB-35

Into our second hours of the four hour wait of TB-35. If four hours will be enough.

All Instruments powered off for survival balance

As of 1:02 EDT this morning, all Instruments have been powered off and safely tucked into bed for the cold dark night known as the survival cold balance (shiver, shiver). 

Payload will trust that the spacecraft will keep us warm (enough) until time to wake up again for Cold Start.

To Instrument teams - remember that payload remains off for the Propulsion Cold Fire Test which follows survival balance, so the next Instrument power on is at TB-40, Orbiter Cold Start. Please check back here or on the hotline for updates on the Orbiter Cold Start time.

TB-34 Complete. TB-35 Started

 TB-34 LOLA Laser was turned off complete. TB-35 Cold Survival Transition has begin 2445.