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.