February marked noteworthy progress for the James Webb Space Telescope of NASA as it completed its last functional performance tests at the Redondo Beach, California-based Northrop Grumman.
According to a Space Coast Daily report, testing teams were successful in completing two important milestones that verified the internal electronics of the observatory are all functioning, as they are designed for, as seen on Cosmoknowledge's YouTube video below, and that the spacecraft, including its four scientific instruments, can both deliver and receive data appropriately through the same network they will utilize in space.
Such milestones move the NASA telescope closer to prepared for launch later this year, specifically in October. The said trials are known as the all-inclusive systems test, which occurred in the Northrop Grumman, and the ground segment trial, which occurred in collaboration with the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.
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Engineers and technicians assemble the James Webb Space Telescope on November 2, 2016, at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
17-Day Systems Testing
Before the launch environment trial, technicians ran a complete scan identified as a comprehensive systems test. This assessment established a starting point of electrical functional performance for the whole observatory and all of the various components working together to comprise the world's premier space science telescope.
Upon conclusion of the environmental testing, engineers and technicians moved ahead to run another comprehensive systems test and compare the data between the two tests.
After a thorough examination of the data, the team verified that the observatory would survive electronically and mechanically, the rigors of launch.
Over the period of 17 consecutive days of systems testing, technicians switched on all of the various electrical components of Webb. They cycled through their planned operations to guarantee each was working and communicating with each other.
The Final Ground Segment Test
Webb's final ground segment test started by initially creating a simulated plan that each of its scientific equipment would follow.
Commands to chronologically turn on, move and operate each scientific instrument were then transmitted from the Mission Operations Center or MOC of Webb at the STScI.
The observatory is treated as if its distance is a million miles far in orbit during the trial. To do this, the Flight Operations team linked the spacecraft to the Deep Space Network, an international range of giant radio antennas used by NASA to communicate with various spacecraft.
Nevertheless, since Webb is not yet in space, special equipment was used to imitate the actual radio connection between the Deep Space Network and Webb when the latter is in orbit.
One of the final ground segment test's extraordinary features took place during a simulated flight environment when the team successfully practiced seamlessly switching over control from its main MOC at STScI to the backup MOC at the Greenbelt Maryland-based Goddard Space Flight Center of NASA.
Software Patches Successfully Sent to the Observatory
This established a backup plan that is not expected to be needed, although it is necessary to practice and perfect before launch.
In addition, the team members successfully sent numerous software patches to the observatory while it was doing its commanded operations.
When Webb gets in space, commands will follow one of the three Deep Space Network locations, including Goldstone, California, Madrid, Spain, or Canberra Australia, from STScI. Signals will then be transmitted to the orbiting observatory almost one million miles away.
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