Battery installation update.

Should be done with mechanical installation around 6:30pm - 7pm. We are still hoping to do the STM tonight.

Flight Battery Installation

We've removed the test battery this morning and are getting ready to install the flight battery. Gordon thinks it will take about 4 more hours. So STM could start around 5p-6p.

Safing Testing - Continuation

Safing testing resumed this morning around 4am. We are currently testing the GN&C safing checks that require GDS Simulations. We will be testing safing until 11am and plan to have the orbiter powered off by Noon today in preparation for battery removal activities.

SC Trenddown wrapping up, Orbiter power coming up

SC Trenddown is wrapping up, Orbiter power almost down. Results nominal.

Just a reminder, we are also still updating the I&T hotline at 301-286-8291 when 'Net access is inconvenient.

Mini-RF Testing Complete, Setting up for Trend-down

Mini-RF Free-Radiate test successfully completed around 23:30 and the team appears happy with the results.

Since we're running a bit ahead of schedule such that trending will be done by 1:00 AM or so, Systems decided to stay with the sctrenddown baseline rather than keeping the Orbiter up and idling overnight.

Payload Functional Complete, Mini-RF Source Horn Test in Progress

Payload Functional wrapped up nominally at around 20:30, and we started the Mini-RF Source Horn Test rerun around 21:00.

Mini-RF Free-radiate test probably begins around 22:00.

Looking good to complete Mini-RF testing and Orbiter Trending prior to Safing Round 2, which is currently planned for a 4:00 AM startup.

Currently running Integrated Payload Functional Test

We completed the Trending Test at 1:30 PM and started the Integrated Payload Functional Test at 2:00 PM. This test will take 6 hours. Mini-RF Free Radiating Tests will take 3 hours, and a final trending test will require 1 to 2 more hours.

At this point we we will power down and reconfigure for the Safing test which will start at 4:00 AM tomorrow 1/9/2009. The Safing Test will end at 11:00 AM.

After 11:00 AM we can power down and start the preprations for battery swap out. We need to discharge the Qual battery, remove the battery blanket and the heater, thermocouple cable.

Flight Battery change out will take place Saturday 1/10/2009. Flight Battery Electrical Integration will take place on Sunday 1/11/2009.

RF Comm KA-Band Functional Test is Complete

At 11:30 AM this morning, 1/8/2009, we completed the Ka-Band Functional Test. We need about 30 minutes to reconfigure and set up for the Trending #7. This test should take about an hour, so we will be ready to start the Integrated Payload functional at about 1:00 PM today.

The Integrated Payload Functional Test normally takes 7 hours, but we will not be running the Mini-RF Test, so we will be able to cut an hour out of the test time. We expect to finish the Integrated payload functional around 7:00 PM.

Following the Integrated Payload Functional Test, we will run the Mini-RF Free Radiating Test (3 hours), that should take us to 10:00 PM.

One final Trending Test, (power down) #8, will complete the evening, by around midnight.

We are currently baselining the Phasing Test-Part B, for day shift tomorrow, 1/9/2009. The starting time is TBD(somewhere between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM), depending on the availability of the required systems engineers. We would like to start at 7:00 AM, but if that is not possible we will perform some battery blanket removal tasks before beginning the Safing Test.

Ka-band functional underway

The S-band functional ran from 12:15 until 5:30AM. Adan was nice enough to end his vacation by getting off the plane, driving here, and running a very successful test. The plan for the rest of the day looks like this:

6:00AM - 2:00PM Ka-band Functional
2:00PM - 3:00PM Trending #7
3:00PM - 10:00PM Integrated Payload Functional
10:00PM - late MRF source horn + free radiating tests

Orbiter Trending #6 Complete, S-Band Functional up next

The "trend" tonight is that the tests all went so smoothly they took less time than allocated. Orbiter Trending #6 complete as of 23:00 EST.

S-Band Functional up next at 2:00 AM. Based on allocated/estimated test times, that puts test times predicted as:

Ka-Comm Functional: 8:00
Orbiter Trending #7: 16:00
Payload Functional: 17:00
MRF Source Horn/ Free Radiating Test: 23:00

Note: No Mini-RF turn-on in Payload Functional cuts test time down to 6 hours

MRF team - if the S/Ka Functionals take less than the 14 hours total allocated, we'll be able to start sooner than 23:00.

DLRE Functional ran divine-ly

DLRE Long Functional ran quick as a whistle, completed in 90 minutes without a hitch.

Now setting up for Orbiter Trending #6.

LOLA/DLRE both completing so quickly catches up the time lost this morning and then some.

Steve Smith volunteered to move up his S-Band Functional start time up to 2:00 AM (from 6:00 AM) to keep the momentum going.

LOLA CPT run complete, beginning DLRE Functional

LOLA CPT1-10 as well as LR CPT1-5 all completed nominally within allocated time.

DLRE Functional start test imminent.

GCE HW Functional is complete and we are currently performing the LOLA Tests

The GCE Functional Tests took a little longer than expected; they finished up at 11:00 AM (instead of 9:30 AM). We took about 30 minutes reconfiguring for the LOLA Tests and finally got underway with the LOLA Testing at 11:30 AM. At the current, rate we will not complete the LOLA Tests until midnight (12:00 AM 1/8/2009). Then we are schedueled to perform the DIVINER Tests, a Trending Test and then start RF system Testing at about 6:00 AM Tomorrow monring (1/8/2009).

GCE functional underway

SCTrending was completed around 4:30AM. The GCE functional was begun around 5:30AM and will take around 4 hours.

The LOLA Testing will begin around 9:30AM, and will most likely occupy the remainder of the first shift on Wednesday.

PDE functional

We have completed the ACS Phasing Test, the RW functional, and we are completing the last portion of the PDE functional. We had to power-down to disconnect the GDS for this portion of the test. We will have to power-down to reconnect the GDS, then power-up and execute the sctrending.

This puts the GCE HW functional some time around 5:00AM (duration of 4 hours).

LR is currently in CPT#2 performing the GN&C Functional Tests

We completed the CSS functional test around 2:30 PM today 1/6/2009. We are currently running the ACS Phasing test which takes about 3 hours. This is to be followed by the RWA Functional Test (3 hours), and the PDE Functional Test (3 hours). These activities will take us to about midnight, at which time we will power down and remove the Solar Array extention cables from the Gimbal assembly.

At this point we will power up and run the Trending #5 (2 hours), followed by the GCE HW functional Test, which is expected to start around 2:00-3:00 AM (4 hours). The GCE HW test is expected to be complete by about 6:00 to 7:00 AM, Wednesday morning.

At 7:00 AM, we will commence with the LOLA tests #1 through #10, which should take up the entire first shift, with a expected completion time of about 4:00 to 5:00 PM Wednesday afternoon, 1/7/2009.

LEND Functional Done

The LEND Full Functional with source is completed.  Next step is removing the radiation source and powering down the spacecraft.  Then we set up for the CSS Functional and the ACS phasing tests.

PSE functional complete

The PSE functional was completed early this morning. First order of business for today is the installation of the source in the white room, immediately followed by the LEND functional.

Orbiter Trending #5 Complete, on to Power Functional

Orbiter Trending #5 completed without incident at 21:30; Power Functional begun at 21:45. All is well.

MRF Testing complete.

All the planned MRF testing for today is complete. The free radiating test will be performed later in the week. We are getting ready to start trending now. PSE functional will be performed after trending.

LEND testing will start at 7am tomorrow morning with the installation of the radiation source.

Mini RF Calibration #1 of 2 Complete

As of 7:30 AM this morning, 1/5/2008, we have completed the first of 2 Mini RF Calibration runs. We are now running Calibration #2, which will be followed by CPT Light(not to be confused with Bud Light); then the "time tag", Return Loss and Source Horn Tests. These tests will take all of the day shift and probably into the evening shift.

Trending Complete, DSB Memory Test in progress

Orbiter Trending #3 ran smoothly, currently setting up for C&DH DSB Memory Test.

According to Systems, the DSB test is expected to only take 5 hours, not the allocated 8, so Mini-RF can get going earlier than 5:30 AM if available.

C&DH Hardware Functional Complete

C&DH Hardware Functional is complete and we're just setting up for Orbiter Trending Run#3, followed by the C&DH DSB Memory Test which will run through the night.

Overall this keeps us within about an hour of the schedule currently posted at the bottom of the page.

Tomorrow's "Mini-RF Day" currently still looking good for a 5:30-6:00ish kickoff, but Mini-RF team should call-in to systems in the control room at 301-286-8276 to doublecheck in the morning before coming in.

Completion of the C&DH Hardware Test Delayed

Due to problems with the ground system (data disks too full), The C&DH Hardware Test completion has been delayed. We now expect to complete the test around 5:00 PM. All tests planned for this evening will be pushed back by at least an hour.

C&DH Hardware test is underway

We completed the Software Controlled Heater test at Noon today 1/4/2009. After about 30 min. of clean up and reconfiguration, we started the C&DH Hardware Test; this should take about 4 hours, finishing up at 4:30 PM. After which we will run the Orbiter Trending Test for 2 hours, and then the C&DH DSB Memory Test, which will require another 8 hours, finishing up around 2:00 AM. So the start of the MINI RF Test is currently estimated to be 2:00 AM, tomorrow morning 1/5/2009.

Software Controlled Heater Tests underway

We started the software controlled heater tests at 10:00 AM today,1/4/09. Heater tests should take until about 12:30 PM, at which time we will start the C&DH hardware tests. Orbiter trending is scheduled to start at 4:00 PM

Safing Test - Status

We completed 33% of the safing tests. Found one error with RTS #48, otherwise, everything else has been good. We just started the 2hr test that will verify AP 69 and 8. This should be complete by 9am. At this point, Part A of the safing tests will be complete.

Status Update - 01/04/09 @5:30am

Continuing safing tests, we completed approximately 21% of the tests so far. Plan is to continue until either 8 or 9 am.

Safing Tests Started

Safing tests have started at 1:30am. Safing tests will run to 9am in the morning.

Orbiter Trending #2

System Stress Test completed at 11:40PM. Running Orbiter Trending (approx 1 hour). Next up: Safing, Safing and more Safing (approx 12 hours).