NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope completes final functional tests to prepare for launch

February was significant progress with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, which completed its final functional performance tests at Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach, California. Test teams have successfully completed two major milestones that have confirmed that the observatory’s internal electronics are all functioning as intended, and that the spacecraft and its four scientific instruments can properly send and receive data through the same network they will use in space. These milestones are moving Webb closer to readiness to launch in October.

These tests are known as the comprehensive system test that took place at Northrop Grumman, and the ground segment test, which took place in collaboration with the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.

Prior to the launch environmental test, technicians performed a complete scan known as a comprehensive system test. This review has established a baseline for electrical functional performance for the entire observatory, and all the many components that work together to create the world’s first premier telescope. After the environmental test was completed, technicians and engineers proceeded to perform another comprehensive system test and compare the data between the two. After thoroughly examining the data, the team confirmed that the observatory would survive the difficulty of launch mechanically as well as electronically.

Over the course of 17 consecutive days of system testing, technicians turned on all of Webb’s various electrical components and traveled through their planned operations to ensure that each one was functioning and communicating with each other. All electrical boxes in the telescope have an “A” and “B” side, which allows redundancy during flight and provides flexibility. During the test, all commands were entered correctly, all the telemetry was correct and all electrical boxes, and each top function as designed.

“It was amazing to see how knowledgeable, dedicated and collaborative the entire team is during this important milestone,” said Jennifer Love-Pruitt, Northrop Grumman’s head of electric vehicle engineering at the Webb Observatory. “It’s definitely a proud moment, because we showed Webb’s electrical readiness. The successful completion of this test also means we are ready to move on to the launch and runway operations.”

Webb’s recent system scan confirms that the observatory will withstand the launch environment.

After completing Webb’s final comprehensive systems evaluation, technicians immediately began preparing for the next major milestone, known as a ground segment test. This test is designed to simulate the entire process, from planning scientific observations to placing scientific data in the community archive.

Webb’s final soil segment test began by first creating a simulated plan that would follow each of its scientific instruments. Assignments to turn on, move, and operate each of four scientific instruments in succession were then transferred from Webb’s Mission Operations Center (MOC) at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore. During the test, the observatory is treated as if it were a million kilometers away in an orbit. To do this, the Flight Operations Team connected the spacecraft to the Deep Space Network, an international series of giant radio antennas that NASA uses to communicate with many spacecraft. Since Webb is not yet in space, special equipment was used to track the true radio link that will exist between Webb and the Deep Space Network when Webb is in orbit. Assignments were then transferred by the Deep Space Network emulator to the observatory at Northrop Grumman.

One of the unique aspects of Webb’s final ground segment test occurred during a simulated flight environment when the team successfully practiced controlling its primary MOC at STScI in Baltimore to the backup MOC at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. , to switch. It showed a backup plan that is not expected to be necessary, but that is necessary to practice and perfect before launch. In addition, team members successfully sent several software stickers to the observatory while executing the commands.

“Working in a pandemic environment is of course a challenge, and our team has done an excellent job by working out its nuances. It’s very positive to highlight, and it’s not just for this test, but also all the tests we did. safely completed in the run-up to this one, ‘said Bonnie Seaton, deputy land segment and operations manager at Goddard. “This recent success can be attributed to many months of preparation, the maturity of our systems, procedures and products and the skill of our team. “

If Webb is in space, STScI’s missions will flow to one of three Deep Space Network locations: Goldstone, California; Madrid, Spain; of Canberra, Australia. Signals will then orbit the observatory, nearly one million miles away. In addition, NASA’s tracking and data transmission satellite network – the New Mexico space network, the European Space Agency’s Malindi station in Kenya and the European space operations center in Germany – will help open a constant line of communication with Webb. to keep.

Engineers and technicians continue to follow personal safety procedures in accordance with current CDC and Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines related to COVID-19, including mask wear and social distance. The team is now preparing for the next series of technical milestones, which will include the final folding of the sunshade and the deployment of the mirror before being sent to the launch site.

The next series of milestones for Webb includes a final sunscreen fold and a final mirror deployment.

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