6.05.2008.   The LRO team has been busy finishing all the details. We are checking out every heater and temperature sensor connection, shielding cables, tying harnesses down for flight, and installing blankets. We have run through tests of all of the electronics on the spacecraft, but we plan to do one more run for the record before we start environmental testing. The flight operations team executed several simulations over the last few weeks.   > More

5.14.2008. All of the instruments are on the Orbiter! LROC arrived on May 9th, and it is now installed. The Mini-RF antenna is not yet installed, but the electronics are on the avionics panel and have been connected to the Orbiter electronics. We have a lot of testing ahead of us, but the integration phase is nearly complete.   > More

05.01.2008. We completed testing with the Deep Space Network last week, and this week we are testing with our primary ground station, White Sands 1. These tests ensure that we can properly communicate with our spacecraft during flight. During the evening shifts, the blanket technicians have been designing the thermal blankets that will protect the orbiter from the temperature extremes in lunar orbit.   > More

04.17.2008. We installed two instruments on the Orbiter this week. LEND is fully integrated, both electrically and mechanically. The instrument checked out fine today when we ran it through its paces. We used a small radioactive source to generate neutrons.   > More

04.10.2008 . Integration of the Ka-band communications system, and mechanically integrated the qualification battery.   > More

04.03.2008 . Completed the electrical hook-up of the Ka-band modulator and tested it with the C&DH, installed the +Z panel of the spacecraft (the last major structural panel), and installed and tested CRaTER and Diviner. LEND has arrived, and preparing it for integration. The LOLA instrument is nearing completion of its thermal vacuum testing.   > More

[Photo right] Diviner instrument in preparation for its first testing on the Orbiter

03.20.2008 . Mechanically integrated the Star Trackers, the Ka-band modulator, and the LAMP instrument onto the Orbiter. Electrically integrated the Instrument Module and the LAMP instrument. In parallel, the High-Gain Antenna System team has made good progress on integration and preparation for environmental testing.   > More

03.13.2008 . Have integrated the +Y panel on the Orbiter. Completed electrical integration of the propulsion module and the reaction wheels. Performed the end-to-end test of the propulsion system, blowing gas from our tanks out through the latch valves and the thrusters, using the spacecraft electronics to control everything.   > More

03.04.2008 . Attached the -Y and -Z panels to the propulsion module, and we also installed the +X panel for stability. Since that time, the flight Telemetry, Tracking, and Command unit arrived, and we integrated it with the spacecraft and tested it.   > More

02.22.2008 . The LAMP instrument arrived Monday. We performed the incoming inspection and check-out. LAMP is in good shape, ready for integration. The High-Gain Antenna arrived, and we integrated the S-band feed and performed some alignment checks. Now we are measuring the RF beam in the anechoic chamber. In the Orbiter White Room, we are cleaning up the last of some details before next week's assembly of the -y and -z panels around the propulsion module.   > More

02.07.2007. The LRO team continues to make good progress with the integration of the Orbiter. The Gimbal Control Electronics and the Propulsion & Deployment Electronics are electrically integrated with the system, and we have run their functional tests. Have installed and connected the Miniature Inertial Measurement Unit (MIMU).   > More

01.21.2008 . LRO's modular spacecraft design is really paying off right now. We had our first official power-up of the spacecraft last week, successfully sending commands and receiving telemetry. The Gimbal Control Electronics are mounted to the panel, but not yet connected. Also last week, CRaTER completed its post-ship functional.   > More

[Photo, Right] . Incoming inspection of the CRaTER instrument.

01.07.2008 . The new year has started with a flurry of activity. The CRaTER instrument was delivered to Goddard Space Flight Center on January 6th. The flight harness completed bake-out while the propulsion module completed its environmental testing. The spacecraft bus and the avionics panel are in the LRO clean room, and the mechanical team has started installation of electronics on the panel.   > More

11.29.2007 . The instrument has completed its EMI and vibration testing, and thermal vacuum started yesterday.   > More

11.08.2007 . The LEND instrument engineering unit is in the Flatsat lab undergoing interface testing. The Flatsat lab contains engineering unit versions of the spacecraft electronics. We use this test bed to verify software performance, check out test procedures, test out operations procedures, and verify interfaces.   > More

10.25.2007 . The Power System Electronics (PSE) is in the vibration laboratory. This test will ensure that the box can handle the rigors of riding on a rocket. Work is continuing on the heater circuits, which will prevent the fuel from freezing during flight.   > More

10.12.2007 . The LRO team completed the last of over 200 welds on the propulsion module. We will now pressurize the system and check for leaks. After this proof pressure testing, we need to finish wiring the heaters and thermostats, then we will perform a shake test.   > More

4.24.2007 . On its way to assembly, LRO has recently made an important pit stop to a place called FlatSat.   > More