ASPERA-3 Sep. 25, 00 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 9_25/ Page 1 Monthly Status Report Report due 9/25/00 Schedule statused as of Sep. 1, 2000

ASPERA-3 Sep. 25, 00 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 9_25/ Page 2 Project Status Summary Technical Jul Aug Sep Detailed Description: (for items identified as yellow or red) Programmatic Jul Aug Sep Schedule Jul Aug Sep Resources Jul Aug Sep Over the last period we continued with flight fabrication. We also delivered prototypes of ELS and IMA to Europe as pathfinders for future flight model testing. A new concern surfaced over the last month. The MCPs delivered to us from IRF for IMA had several blemishes and stains. We sent these parts back to IRF for further disposition. We are in the process of updating our test flow / delivery to reflect the uncertainty regarding the MCPs. The manufacture of the high tolerance ELS parts by an outside subcontractor continues to be a concern. The late delivery of the parts will likely effect final flight unit delivery Latest project photos and videos are available on Aspera-3 web site.photosvideos

ASPERA-3 Sep. 25, 00 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 9_25/ Page 3 Problem and Concern Summary P=Problem C=Concern R=Resolved

ASPERA-3 Sep. 25, 00 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 9_25/ Page 4 Accomplishments of the Last Month -ELS Received finished machined sets 1 and 2 from Hyperfine. Parts do not meet spec but may be acceptable as flight spare. Hyperfine thinks they have determined the reason for out of spec condition. Process will be modified on set #3. Parts were delivered to Walton Plating for UV blackening. We have received the first (which is the better machined) set back. Second set is held up while Walton personnel are on vacation. Started rough machining of a third set of parts to supply to Hyperfine. Delivered prototype ELS to MSSL to be used as a pathfinder for flight and flight spare sensor calibration. Delivered ELS STM to IRF on 8/28/00. Both amp boards are complete, inspected and bench tested.

ASPERA-3 Sep. 25, 00 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 9_25/ Page 5 Accomplishments of the Last Month –ELS (cont.) HVPS #1 is complete, inspected, bench tested and characterized over temperature. HVPS #2 is complete, inspected, bench tested and will be characterized over temperature 9/22-9/25. Electronics set #1 has been integrated together and have completed functional and thermal test. Electronics set #2 will be integrated, functionally tested and thermal cycled starting 9/26. Met with FMI (DPU and flight software lead) following ASPERA-3 team meeting. We reviewed ELS electrical interface, characterization of the DPU over temperature, flight software and ELS data compression techniques.

ASPERA-3 Sep. 25, 00 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 9_25/ Page 6 Accomplishments of the Last Month - IMA Assembled flight and flight spare electronics for thermal test (w/o MCPs). Completed test with no anomalies. Inspected flight MCPs in preparation for flight assembly of both units. Identified several blemishes and “stains”. Sent the MCPs back to IRF for their disposition. Have started discussions with IRF about potential new plan where we deliver IMA electronics to IRF sans MCPs. IRF assumes the responsibility for MCP installation (with our support) and testing after MCP installation. This change should not effect our delivery date or budget.

ASPERA-3 Sep. 25, 00 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 9_25/ Page 7 Accomplishments of the Last Month - Data Reduction Software Began Addressing TBDs in the APAF Software Development Plan (SDP), V1.1 –Will Release Version 1.2 November, 2000 Began Updates to the APAF Project Data Management Plan (PDMP), V1.0 per PDS Comments –Will Release Version 1.1 December, 2000 Delivered APAF Data System Interface Document (DSID), V1.0 to PDS –Waiting for Feedback APAF Software Requirements Documentation is Currently on Hold Due to Lack of Information Concerning ASPERA-3 Packet Definitions Continued Providing Technical Assistance for EPO Web Information Continued Defining and Implementing IDFS Web Tools Provided Software Support for ELS Characterization Held monthly ASPERA-3 Software Status Meeting (September 22, 2000)

ASPERA-3 Sep. 25, 00 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 9_25/ Page 8 Planned Activities for the Next Month - ELS (Hopefully) receive MCP flight set 5 to complete the order. Finish rough machining set #3 parts. Deliver parts to Hyperfine. Receive high tolerance parts from Hyperfine. Deliver parts to England for UV coating. Finish flight electronics #2 thermal test. Assemble flight spare unit. Begin flight spare unit characterization and high voltage testing.

ASPERA-3 Sep. 25, 00 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 9_25/ Page 9 Planned Activities for the Next Month - IMA Assemble flight and flight spare units with dummy MCPs. Perform vibe test on both units. Start vacuum testing beginning with high voltage breakdown tests. Begin characterization testing.

ASPERA-3 Sep. 25, 00 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 9_25/ Page 10 Planned Activities for the Next Month - Data Reduction Software Tasks Continue Providing Technical Assistance for EPO Web Information Continue Defining and Implementing IDFS Web Tools Continue Addressing TBDs in the APAF Software Development Plan (SDP), V1.1 Continue Updates to the APAF Project Data Management Plan (PDMP), V1.0 Begin Defining Packet Definitions for ELS

ASPERA-3 Sep. 25, 00 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 9_25/ Page 11 Problem and Concern Status Alignment of ELS : This remains our biggest concern. We have received two sets of parts from Hyperfine. None of the parts meet spec though they may be acceptable as flight spare. We are rough machining another set of parts for Hyperfine per their new directions and process.* The parts will then be sent to Hyperfine for precision machining. Walton Plating is shut down until Oct 10. We are shooting to have set #3 to Walton at that time for UV blackening. The problems with the machining and blackening will likely cause us to slightly slip delivery of ELS. We have discussed this with IRF & MSSL. They do not see any problems with slipping the delivery. We will be discussing this officially with them and NASA in the coming week. *Hyperfine’s theory on why the parts are out of spec is that too little material was left for the precision machining operation. The rough machining since it was to near final dimensions effected the grain structure of the part making it impossible for Hyperfine to precision machine the part to the specified tolerance. The rough machining of the next set of parts will leave much more material so that the grain structure is not disturbed.

ASPERA-3 Sep. 25, 00 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 9_25/ Page 12 Problem and Concern Status (cont.) IMA MCPs : A new concern: we inspected the IMA MCPs during the last month and identified several blemishes and stains. These plates were procured and provided as CFE by IRF. We sent the plates back to IRF for IRF to disposition. At IRF’s suggestion, we are looking at modifying our test and delivery plan to deliver IMA to IRF without MCPs. This places the responsibility for the MCPs solely on IRF and protects our schedule and budget. The proposed test plan (which will be discussed with IRF and NASA) still has us performing vibration, high voltage, and characterization testing of both IMA units. We will also support IRF post- delivery for MCP installation and testing. The proposed plan does not effect our delivery schedule or budget.

ASPERA-3 Sep. 25, 00 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 9_25/ Page 13 Schedule Summary ELS: The manufacture of the high precision parts to spec and the subsequent UV blackening is the critical path on the schedule for delivery of the flight unit. We are currently updating the schedule to reflect the latest knowledge about availability of personnel and current plan for testing and delivery. Discussions with IRF / NASA / MSSL will continue and will be finalized in the coming weeks.

ASPERA-3 Sep. 25, 00 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 9_25/ Page 14 Schedule Summary (cont.) IMA: Likewise, we are in the process of updating our schedule to reflect the new proposed plan for delivery of IMA. We feel confident that we can still make the current delivery date under the new plan and are still planning on a Pre-ship Review the week of Nov. 13. The new schedule / plan will be reported upon at the upcoming Monthly Status Telcon. Software activities continue to be on schedule. The full-up schedule is available on the ASPERA- 3 Web site.schedule

ASPERA-3 Sep. 25, 00 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 9_25/ Page 15 ASPERA-3 PHASE B/C/D MASTER SCHEDULE