Spacecraft Assembly

Attaching Panels

March 4, 2008

On February 28, 2008, we attached the -Y and -Z panels to the propulsion module, and we also installed the +X panel for stability. This major mechanical operation involved about a dozen engineers and technicians. Since that time, the flight Telemetry, Tracking, and Command unit arrived, and we integrated it with the spacecraft and tested it.

On March 1st, the Diviner instrument arrived. We are checking it out this week.

Propulsion Module with the avionics panel (-Y) on the right and the Instrument Module panel (+Y) on the left. The panel with the reaction wheels (-Z) is on the other side of the Propulsion Module. The +X panel is on top. Our hardware is starting to look like a spacecraft.

  The High-Gain Antenna | The Propulsion System