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Testing of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)
The LRO spacecraft was built by engineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. It was then put through extensive testing. The orbiter was subjected to the extreme temperature cycles of the lunar environment as engineers conducted simulated flight operations. "We have cooked LRO, frozen it, shaken it, and blasted it with electromagnetic waves, and still it operates," said Dave Everett, LRO mission system engineer at Goddard. "We have performed more than 2,500 hours of powered testing since January."

Spin TestThe spin test determines the spacecraft's center of gravity and measures characteristics of its rotation. It also provides a fine 360-degree display of LRO.    Spin Test

The spin test determines the spacecraft's center of gravity and measures characteristics of its rotation. It also provides a fine 360-degree display of LRO.
Duration: 2.0 minutes
Available formats:
  640x480 (29.97 fps) MPEG-4   43 MB
  640x360 (29.97 fps) MPEG-1   29 MB
  320x240 (29.97 fps) MPEG-4   26 MB
  1280x720 (30 fps) QT         69 MB
  344x260 (29.97 fps) WMV         25 MB
  320x240     PNG           259 KB
  160x80       PNG           67 KB
  80x40         PNG           17 KB
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Thermal Vacuum TestUsing the thermal vacuum chamber, enginers confirm that all components properly operate over a range of temperatures and in vacuum. By varying the temperature of the walls around the spacecraft to simulate the hot moon, the cold moon, deep space, or sunlight, engineers measure the Orbiter temperature in different locations to observe the heat flow through the system.    Thermal Vacuum Test

Using the thermal vacuum chamber, enginers confirm that all components properly operate over a range of temperatures and in vacuum. By varying the temperature of the walls around the spacecraft to simulate the hot moon, the cold moon, deep space, or sunlight, engineers measure the Orbiter temperature in different locations to observe the heat flow through the system.
Duration: 47.0 seconds
Available formats:
  640x360 (29.97 fps) MPEG-4   8 MB
  1280x720 (30 fps) QT         29 MB
  320x180     PNG           261 KB
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Solar Array Test DeployEngineers deployed the solar array during the summer of 2008 on a Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) test model and under the duress of gravity. Later, the flight hardware was integrated, tested and deployed in the White House clean room at Goodard Space Flight Center.    Solar Array Test Deploy

Engineers deployed the solar array during the summer of 2008 on a Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) test model and under the duress of gravity. Later, the flight hardware was integrated, tested and deployed in the White House clean room at Goodard Space Flight Center.
Duration: 2.4 minutes
Available formats:
  640x360 (29.97 fps) MPEG-1   36 MB
  640x480 (29.97 fps) MPEG-4   34 MB
  344x260 (29.97 fps) WMV         31 MB
  320x240 (29.97 fps) MPEG-4   22 MB
  320x240     PNG           230 KB
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High Gain Antenna Test DeployEngineers built, tested, integrated and deployed the high gain antenna at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.    High Gain Antenna Test Deploy

Engineers built, tested, integrated and deployed the high gain antenna at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Duration: 1.1 minutes
Available formats:
  640x360 (29.97 fps) MPEG-1   16 MB
  640x480 (29.97 fps) MPEG-4   14 MB
  344x260 (29.97 fps) WMV         12 MB
  320x240 (29.97 fps) MPEG-4   11 MB
  320x240     PNG           239 KB
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Laser Ranging TestingThe Laser Ranging System is designed to measure the distance to the LRO spacecraft using laser pulses sent from Earth. The laser pulses are received by a small telescope attached to the High Gain Antenna and transferred via fiber optic bundle to the LOLA istrument where the pulses are detected. Sometimes, the laser pulses will arrive at the telescope from a slight angle. The Laser Ranging Telescope needs to be able to see these off-axis pulses. Engineers test the telescope by rotating it in front of a light source to make sure the telescope's field of view is wide enough to pick up those laser pulses.    Laser Ranging Testing

The Laser Ranging System is designed to measure the distance to the LRO spacecraft using laser pulses sent from Earth. The laser pulses are received by a small telescope attached to the High Gain Antenna and transferred via fiber optic bundle to the LOLA istrument where the pulses are detected. Sometimes, the laser pulses will arrive at the telescope from a slight angle. The Laser Ranging Telescope needs to be able to see these off-axis pulses. Engineers test the telescope by rotating it in front of a light source to make sure the telescope's field of view is wide enough to pick up those laser pulses.
Duration: 2.1 minutes
Available formats:
  640x360 (29.97 fps) MPEG-1   32 MB
  640x480 (29.97 fps) MPEG-4   30 MB
  344x260 (29.97 fps) WMV         27 MB
  320x240 (29.97 fps) MPEG-4   19 MB
  320x240     PNG           184 KB
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Animation Number:10425
Completed:2009-04-20
Editor:Erica Drezek (HTSI)
Producer:Erica Drezek (HTSI)
Videographers:Erica Drezek (HTSI)
 Chris Smith (UMBC)
Platform/Sensor/Data Set:LRO
Series:LRO - Footage
Goddard TV Tapes:G2008-142 -- Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Resource Tape
 G2009-030 -- LRO Pre-Launch Resource Tape
Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Clean Room
SVS >> Equipment Testing
SVS >> LRO
SVS >> Lunar Reconaissance Orbiter
More Information on this topic available at:
http://nasa.gov/lro
 
 
Please give credit for this item to
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center


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