Assembly begins at 12:54 MDT, 28 April 2009.

The team is assembling the spacecraft in an orderly and structured process.  Every step has been meticulously documented.

The team attaches the first panel.

All panels are attached quickly…

All panels are attached as of 1:22 MDT.

Component mounting has begun.

Component mounting nearing completion...

The team is ready for the first bus functional test, only 91 minutes from receiving direction from RS7.

First bus functional test, 91 minutes from order.

Following the successful bus functional test, assembly resumes.

Bus functional test was successful, and assembly has resumed. 2:55 MDT

The team closes the panels…

Closing panels...

Closing panels...

Closing panels... 3:22 MDT

Three hours from the RS7 order, the assembly is nearly complete.

Three hours since the order. 3:54 MDT

All panels are closed, as of 4:16 MDT.

All panels closed. 4:16 MDT

Communication module attached. 4:38 MDT

The second bus functional test began at 4:49 MDT.

Unpacking the solar array:

Unpacking the solar array. 5:12 MDT

Illuminating the sensors for a test:

Illuminating sensors. 5:14 MDT

Attaching solar array at 5:23 MDT:

Attaching solar array. 5:23 MDT

For those familiar with the “Four Hour Video,” today’s activity was even more impressive.  The team not only assembled the spacecraft, but also performed two series of bus functional tests to provide assurance that the systems were operating correctly.  The entire elapsed time for today’s activity was 4 hours, 52 minutes.  This included 1 hour 34 minutes of functional testing.

Wednesday morning, 29 April 2009, the team will receive more guidance from RS7 regarding the limited series of tests to perform.

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Following direction from the RS7 Conference, the team begins a series of tests on Wednesday morning.

Preparing for weight and c.g. tests. 9:20 MDT

Team members move the satellite to the vibration table.

Moving to the vibe table. 10:00 MDT

The team members carefully install the satellite on the vibe table.

Installing satellite on vibe table. 10:21 MDT

Installing the satellite on the vibe table.

Vibration testing is underway at 10:38 MDT.

Vibration testing has begun. 10:38 MDT

Following successful vibration tests, the team has moved the satellite back into the workspace, and prepares for the next functional tests.

Preparing for functional tests. 11:27 MDT

The team removed the solar array and deployed it, then illuminated it to simulate sunlight.

Removing the solar array. 1:13 MDT

Unfolding the solar array.

Here comes the sun.

Following more functional tests, the team began putting the satellite through simulated mission scenarios.

Mission scenarios. 3:15 MDT

Here is a summary of the Day 2 activity:

1.  Prepare for vibration testing, remove GSE items and configure for flight.

2.  Weigh spacecraft and verify with predicted mass.

3.  Perform sine sweep test in lateral axis.  Verify first structural mode at 68Hz.

4.  Perform random vibration, ESPA level -6dB, 1 min.

5.  Perform sine sweep test in lateral axis.  Verify first structural mode at 68Hz.

6.  Configure GSE for functional test.

7.  Perform Bus functional, ADCS command and telemetry, EPS battery charging, GPS signal reception.

8.  TT&C uplink and downlink to simulated Kwaj Ground Station by RF over air.

9.  Tactical radio link uplink and downlink to PRC-117 radio by RF over air.

10.  Solar array deployment of the restraining panels.

11.  Unfold and FITS array and illuminate.  Verify open circuit voltage and limited current to spacecraft bus.

12.  Stow FITS array and re-install.

13.  Update spacecraft on-board flight software task list to include all mission software.

14.  Power-up vehicle with simulation (SDT) and begin Launch/Early Orbit mission simulation.

15.  Verify mission events: rate damping, array deployment, sun point, low drag attitude at low altitude, schedule and execute first TT&C contact and verify acquisition of S-Band downlink at ground station, simulate battery charge control with simulator supplying solar array power.

16.  Power-down after one orbit (90 minutes).

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Wednesday, 30 April 2009 at 7:00 MDT, Dale Stottlemyer applies blankets to the satellite while mission scenario simulations continue to run.

Applying blankets. 7:15 MDT

After all tests have successfully completed, the team packs the satellite for shipment.

Packing for shipment begins at 1:37 MDT.

Packing continues.