INTEGRAL thermal vacuum tests - 15 April 2002
15 April 2002
Preparations for the thermal vacuum test are proceeding at a rapid pace. The test facility team has now finished all the maintenance and preparation work for the Large Space Simulator (LSS). One last additional pipe is being installed for an INTEGRAL specific cold shroud. The INTEGRAL spacecraft itself is nearly ready for the test. The final connections and thermal protective blankets are being adjusted. Finally, the test team is finalising all the documentation and test sequences. A meeting with all instrument teams confirmed that the test scenario is also clear for payload aspects. Final logistics aspects are being arranged to accommodate the test team shifts around the clock for the 3 weeks duration of the test.
Paolo Bau of the Alenia test team is lowered into the Large Space Simulator for final work on the spacecraft. Other parts of the spacecraft are accessible from a large scaffolding inside the vacuum chamber, but some areas require this more acrobatic approach. |
Inside the Large Space Simulator, Paolo Bau of Alenia adjusts the thermal blankets around the thermal test adapter. |
