...
Readers may recall that the mission is separated into phases.
Following the "launch phase" was the 80-day "checkout phase". The
current "interplanetary cruise phase," which began on December 17,
2007, is the longest. It ends when the "Vesta phase" begins. (Other
phases may occur simultaneously with those phases, such as the "oh
man, this is so cool phase," the "what clever name are we going to
give this phase phase," and the "lunch phase.")
And they say scientists have no sense of humor
It is both unnecessary and impossible to test all sequences. The
simulator operates in real-time, so it would take 3 months to run
all the approach sequences, and the Dawn team has too many other
tests to perform with the simulator to allow that. Because much of
the approach phase consists of ion thrusting, an activity which is
quite familiar not only to the spacecraft but also to mission
controllers (as well as regular readers of these logs), there is no
need to test the thrusting periods. Engineers review each sequence
to determine which portions would benefit from testing.
Why does that sound like a lead-in to something about to appear on
comp.risks?
rick jones
--
a wide gulf separates "what if" from "if only"
these opinions are mine, all mine; HP might not want them anyway...
feel free to post, OR email to rick.jones2 in hp.com but NOT BOTH...
Dawn Journal - March 28, 2010
Linear Mode
