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GP-B Post-Flight Analysis—Final Report - Gravity Probe B - Stanford ...

GP-B Post-Flight Analysis—Final Report - Gravity Probe B - Stanford ...

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The spacecraft's full-sun season has ended, and it is now experiencinglonger periods of being eclipsed from sunlight by the Earth duringeach orbit. It is flying drag-free around gyro #3, maintaining aconstant roll rate of 0.7742 rpm (77.5 seconds per revolution.) All fourgyros are digitally suspended in science mode. The temperature insidethe dewar is holding steady at 1.82 Kelvin, and it is now less than halffull of superfluid helium. We have been collecting science data for 19weeks, and we are now approximately 45% of the way through thescience phase of the mission. The data collection process is continuingto proceed smoothly, and the quality of the data remains excellent.14 JANUARY 2005—GRAVITY PROBE B WEEKLYUPDATE: Day 269The spacecraft is in excellent health, with all subsystems performingwell. The <strong>GP</strong>-B spacecraft is flying drag-free around gyro #3,maintaining a constant roll rate of 0.7742 rpm (77.5 seconds perrevolution.) All four gyros are digitally suspended in science mode.The temperature inside the dewar is holding steady at 1.82 Kelvin. Wehave been collecting science data for 20 weeks, just under halfwaythrough the science phase of the mission. The data collection processcontinues to proceed smoothly, and the quality of the data remainsexcellent.21 JANUARY 2005—GRAVITY PROBE B WEEKLYUPDATEMission Elapsed Time: 276 days (39 weeks/9 months)Current Orbit #: 4,075 as of 4:30PM PSTSpacecraft General Health: GoodRoll Rate: Normal at 0.7742 rpm (77.5 seconds per revolution)dewar Temperature: 1.82 Kelvin, holding steadyWe are in the process of recovering from the effects of 7 major solarflares that have erupted from the Sun’s surface since 15 January 2005.These flares have resulted in extremely high levels of proton radiationand two multi-bit errors (MBE) in our SRE electronics.In addition, these high levels of solar radiation saturated the <strong>GP</strong>-Btelescope detectors, causing the telescope to lose track of the guide star(IM Pegasi). We have now re-locked the telescope onto the guide star.We have determined that one of the MBEs in the SRE electronics is ina non-critical location, but the second one is in a location that is usedfor SQUID calibration.We are in the process of creating a work-around for the second MBElocation. Our science team reports that the loss of data from theseevents has been minimal, and that it will have no significant effect onthe experimental results.<strong>Gravity</strong> <strong>Probe</strong> B — <strong>Post</strong> <strong>Flight</strong> Analysis • Final <strong>Report</strong> March 2007 495

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