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In this issue:
Dawn Proceeds to Launch
Dawn Status Report
Dawn Spacecraft Nearing Final Integration
Email List Signup Instructions
Printable version of this newsletter (PDF
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Dawn Spacecraft Nearing Final Integration
Carol A. Raymond
Dawn Deputy Principal Investigator, JPL
During the stand down the team has been working on developing and vetting test procedures and dry-running them on the testbed. The team is anxious to integrate the instruments, which have been stored at Orbital since November, and begin comprehensive spacecraft testing. Final delivery of the second (re-worked) Attitude Control Electronics Unit, the PPUs, and re-worked Digital Control Interface Units are pending. The ion thrusters are the last items to be integrated.
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Figure 2.
State of the Dawn spacecraft as of last October (same as current state). Reaction wheels and coarse sun sensors are visible on the upper (+Z) deck, and an ion thruster mounting sleeve at bottom. Spacecraft assembly is about 90% complete.
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Figure 3. View of spacecraft showing harness and subsystem boxes in the high bay at Orbital. Boxes are integrated to flight panels that are laid flat for testing.
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