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GPM Completes First Dry Run

By Ellen Gray , NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Original www.nasa.gov Press Release (published 10/17/12) NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory satellite went through its first complete comprehensive performance test (CPT), beginning on Oct. 4, 2012 at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The testing ran twenty-four hours, seven days a week and lasted ten days as the entire spacecraft was put through its paces. "This is the first time we've gotten to see the observatory all put together, running the way it's supposed to be running in flight," said CPT

Solar Array Vibration and Acoustic Testing

GPM's two solar array wings completed vibration and acoustic testing at Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. The solar arrays were integrated to an identical copy of the Lower Bus Structure of the satellite for this testing. These tests and deployments demonstrate the ability of the solar array to withstand the vibrations and sounds the satellite will be subject to during launch as well as test the ability of the solar arrays to unfold once in orbit. Diagram of the GPM Core Observatory depicting various components of the Solar Array Assembly.

High Gain Antenna System Testing

The High Gain Antenna System onboard the GPM Core Observatory was successfully deployed and functionally tested after being integrated onto the spacecraft late last year. The HGAS is responsible for relaying data collected by the satellite’s instruments to Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRS) satellites. Data is sent back to Goddard Space Flight Center via a NASA wide-area network. The GPM High Gain Antenna System (HGAS) in integration and testing at Goddard Space Flight Center.

GPM Microwave Imager Instrument Arrives at Goddard

the GMI at Goddard, surrounded by engineers
By Rob Gutro, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Original www.nasa.gov Press Release (published 3/1/12) The Global Precipitation Measurement Microwave Imager (GMI) instrument has arrived at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. for integration into NASA's upcoming Earth science spacecraft. The instrument was built at the Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colo. The GPM Microwave Imager instrument being placed in the acoustic chamber at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center on March 1, 2012. Credit: NASA / Ball Aerospace Engineers at NASA Goddard will integrate both the

GPM Solar Array Deployment Test

Submitted by JacobAdmin on Wed, 12/14/2011

(ambient audio only)

This and other similar tests will verify the deployment function of the GPM Core Observatory solar arrays in ambient condition. Data such as deployment time, hinge forces, and system stiffness will be gathered and reviewed for requirement compliance. The qualification unit was assembled with flight and non-flight components. The flight components will be removed and integrated with the flight unit after qualification testing.  

GPM Takes a Spin on the Centrifuge (page 2)

GPM flying over Earth with a data swath visualized.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
NASA technicians spun the GPM satellite up to just over 10 RPM in Goddard Space Flight Center’s High-Capacity Centrifuge facility March 31 2011. Put Some Spin On It If you've ever taken a fast curve in a car, you've felt your body pushed outward, away from the curve. That outward push is centrifugal force, and the faster you turn, the more it pushes you away from the center. Spinning on the centrifuge does the same thing to the satellite -- except the centrifugal forces are a lot bigger -- capable of going up to 30 times the force of gravity, or "g's." GPM's test went up to seven g's. But...
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GPM Takes a Spin on the Centrifuge

GPM on the High Capacity Centrifuge
Thursday, October 20, 2011
In the clean room at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt Md., the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission's Core satellite is steadily taking shape. Set to measure rainfall worldwide after launch in 2014, GPM's two solar panels are the latest components currently undergoing rigorous testing before being integrated with the spacecraft, a process that began seven months ago when the main structural elements went on an unusual ride. GPM moves from the clean room to the test chamber on a dolly without wheels. Compressed air is pumped out under airpads that float the Spacecraft on...
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Testing GPM on the High Capacity Centrifuge

Submitted by JacobAdmin on Thu, 10/20/2011

(ambient audio only)

GPM moves from the clean room to the test chamber on a dolly without wheels. Compressed air is pumped out under airpads that float the Spacecraft on a bed of air. The wind generated when the centrifuge moves at its maximum speed are more than 200 mph - that's tornado speed. But since they move with the centrifuge the satellites tested only feel 20 mph winds. Leaning outward at 45 degrees for one test orientation, GPM comes within 28 inches of the wall. When lifted onto the platform it cleared the ceiling by only five inches.

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