LRO Status 3/5/2009

Over the past few day we have completed the DSN testing, alignments, and today performed a practice run of the Launch Day Aliveness Test. In parallel the MOT and the Project have been preparing for the upcoming FOR next week.

AV-20 Fairing Arrives at Astrotech.

The AV-20 (LRO/LCROSS launch) fairing arrived at Astrotech Thursday, Feb. 26 and was off-loaded on Friday, Feb. 27. Too cool!

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam

Propulsion System End to End Test

We successfully completed the propulsion system end to end test yesterday 2/24. It was the last time to fire the thrusters until the real thing!

LRO performs final Pre-launch LAMP End to End Test

This evening, 2/23/2009, The I&T team, with the support of the LAMP engineering team, performed LAMP the instrument pre-launch end to end test. This is the final verification of instrument performance, and the final chance to verify detector health.

LRO Sunday Update

Today was spent with the LRO MOT operating the Orbiter from the MOC at GSFC as we tested Flight Procs. We are making excellent progress and expect to wrap this up over the next week as the coming week's schedule has a number of additional shifts devoted to this.

Also today the LAMP team started their GSE ion vacuum pumps in preperation for their end-to-end test tomorrow night. It is pumping down nicely.

More news on Monday...

aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem

LRO Progress

Today we completed the LEND Functional with the radioactive source. Yesterday the modifications to the thermistor circuit were successfully completed to eliminate the 5 Hz interference problem. Kudos to the electrical and thermal blanket team for developing and implementing an optimal solution to this small but significant problem. The testing today showed LEND is healthy and further confirmed the 5 HZ noise is gone. The LAMP Functional was also completed after the installation of the LAMP vacuum pumping system. LAMP too is flight ready. Tomorrow flight procs will be run and checked out by the MOC at GSFC on the Orbiter here at Astrotech. The MOT is pressing hard toward FORR and tomorrows work will us bring near completion of flight proc checkouts.

Another Sim Successfully Completed

We successfully completed our Mission Simulation today that exercised the Early Mission Timeline. Our team also did a great job working with the injected anomalies and running through our contingency procedures. Nice work everyone!!

LRO Early Mission Simulation

Today LRO and it's totally awesome team are simulating part of the early mission timeline from separation. Several contingencies will be injected as part of the timeline. The team and orbiter are ready to go.