|
|
Entry 18: A busy week 
Last week was particularly intense with a number of important tests being carried out.
Firstly, the satellite's ion propulsion valves were successfully checked. Although some of the valves had been dormant for almost two years, all went well. By counteracting drag along GOCE's exceptionally low orbit above the Earth, the specialised ion propulsion system is integral to keeping the satellite stable.
Secondly, a two-part 'Integrated System Check' took place. The first part went well but the second part, on the redundant part of the system, took longer than expected as there were a few minor intermittent problems with the ground electronics used for in the second test. The tests were eventually successfully completed and the data transmitted to Thales Alenia Space in Italy for analysis.
In addition, one of the star tracker baffles was checked for alignment as it has been removed in November before the satellite went into storage. The star trackers measure the orientation of the spacecraft relative to the stars to enable angular control. The test was achieved with a laser gun and a steady hand. Another check on the star tracker was done in the dark – which meant turning off all the lights in the clean room.
The weather was particularly cold last week with temperatures falling to -17°C but the skies were clear.
Last update: 3 March 2009
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
