ASPERA-3 Mar. 25, 01 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 3_25/ Page 1 Monthly Status Report Report due 3/25/01 Schedule statused as of Mar. 16, 2001

ASPERA-3 Mar. 25, 01 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 3_25/ Page 2 Project Status Summary Technical Jan Feb Mar Detailed Description: (for items identified as yellow or red) Programmatic Jan Feb Mar Schedule Jan Feb Mar Resources Jan Feb Mar We successfully held a Pre-Ship Review for ELS on March 1. The ELS flight unit was delivered to IRF on March 5. DD250s have been received for ELS and IMA. Following delivery of the ELS flight unit, it was found that there was an error in the fabrication of the flight, flight spare, and prototype ELS amp board. The fix will be slightly in excess of this years reserves. We are still working the new delivery schedule with the Europeans. We successfully held a Software Requirements Review at the ASPERA team meeting. Comments to the requirements document are now being incorporated. Latest project photos and videos are available on Aspera-3 web site.photosvideos

ASPERA-3 Mar. 25, 01 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 3_25/ Page 3 Problem and Concern Summary P=Problem C=Concern R=Resolved

ASPERA-3 Mar. 25, 01 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 3_25/ Page 4 Accomplishments of the Last Month -ELS Completed measurement of the mass properties of the flight unit. Finalized characterization testing of the flight spare. Completed the ELS Acceptance Data Package and successfully held the ELS Pre-ship Review with JPL QA. Delivered ELS flight unit to IRF and held acceptance meeting with IRF project personnel. Received the DD250 from NMO for ELS. Attended ASPERA-3 team meeting.

ASPERA-3 Mar. 25, 01 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 3_25/ Page 5 Accomplishments of the Last Month - IMA We received the DD250 for the IMA flight and flight spare delivery. IMA hardware activities are now complete.

ASPERA-3 Mar. 25, 01 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 3_25/ Page 6 Accomplishments of the Last Month - Data Reduction Software Attended ASPERA-3 Team Meeting March 6-7 in Kiruna, Sweden –Conducted APAF Software Requirements Review –Presented ELS Packet Definitions –Established Additional Contacts with Appropriate ASPERA-3 Team Members for Information Exchange Relevant to Ground Data System Development Continued Working on APAF Software Requirements Specification (SRS) –Software Requirements Review Minutes to be Released by the End of March, 2001 –Began Changes to SRS Based on Review ELS Packet Definitions Done for Now –Waiting on More Definitive Feedback from FMI Before Proceeding Continued Providing Technical Assistance for EPO Web Information Continued Defining and Implementing IDFS Web Tools Held monthly ASPERA-3 Software Status Meeting (March 23, 2001)

ASPERA-3 Mar. 25, 01 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 3_25/ Page 7 Planned Activities for the Next Month - ELS Get ELS flight unit back from IRF. Assemble new flight and flight spare amplifier boards. Bench test and thermal test new amp boards. Reassemble flight and flight spare with new boards. Vibe and characterize flight unit.

ASPERA-3 Mar. 25, 01 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 3_25/ Page 8 Planned Activities for the Next Month - IMA None.

ASPERA-3 Mar. 25, 01 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 3_25/ Page 9 Planned Activities for the Next Month - Data Reduction Software Tasks Continue Working on APAF Software Requirements Specification (SRS) –Send Version 1.0 to ASPERA-3 Team for Final Review by April 13, 2001 –Begin Sign-off Process in Preparation for Delivery by May 1, 2001 Begin Packet Definitions for IMA and NPI Continue Providing Technical Assistance for EPO Web Information Continue Defining and Implementing IDFS Web Tools

ASPERA-3 Mar. 25, 01 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 3_25/ Page 10 Problem and Concern Status Funding for ELS board fix: Just after delivery of the ELS flight unit, it was found that there was an error in the fabrication of each of the ELS amplifier boards. The via from the anodes to the charge amplifier was not connected. This was a very subtle error that caused varying sensitivity from channel to channel. We have since worked up a new plan to order new boards and to build-up, reassemble and re–verify the ELS flight units. We are currently iterating this plan with IRF and MSSL. While we do not see any technical problems, we are concerned that this problem will exceed this years funding reserves causing us to use a small portion of next years funds.

ASPERA-3 Mar. 25, 01 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 3_25/ Page 11 Schedule Summary ELS: As stated previously, the ELS flight unit was delivered on schedule. We are currently working on the schedule for the re-delivery of ELS. We have held a telcon with IRF and are only waiting on agreement from MSSL. We are proposing delivery to MSSL May 7 for flight calibration. We have already ordered the replacement boards with a 10-day delivery. Software: Due to the problems with the flight processor, some software activities have been delayed. The overall delivery of the software to support mission operations however continues to be on schedule. We are currently in the process of refining the software schedule adding increased definition. The full-up schedule is available on the ASPERA-3 Web site.schedule

ASPERA-3 Mar. 25, 01 Monthly Status Report ASPERA Monthly Status ReportMonthly 3_25/ Page 12 ASPERA-3 PHASE B/C/D MASTER SCHEDULE