Feb 15 - 28, 2002.

The Qual Model (QM) of FS-2 was tested at Kirtland AFB in late February, 2002.   This model is very close to the flight configuration.  It performed quite well although a few things will get tuned up prior to building the Flight Model (FM) over the next three months or so. 

The QM looks much like the engineering model.  Here it is partially assembled in the clean room at the AFA.  One addition not in the engineering model is the box on the left in this photo.  It contains the interface electronics for the science experiment.  The three connectors on the near edge will be cabled to sensors on the top of the satellite which will measure depletion zones in the upper Ionosphere.   This box, called the MIB, was build entirely by cadets and faculty at the AFA and is quite unique.  The sensors are also new devices designed and built by the Physics department at the AFA.

As it comes out of the thermal vacuum chamber it has to be handled carefully to avoid damage to the solar panels as the thermal couples are removed.  About 40 were attached to the spacecraft in various places to allow a complete thermal model of it's behavior over the temperature range of about -40 to +40 C.  Cadets have carefully moved the QM from the rail on the top of the chamber to the crane and are now lowering it to the new mobile work stand

You can see the wires and connectors from most of the thermocouples in this picture.   The smaller solar panels were purchased from SpaceQuest and performed perfectly.   The large ones were built by cadets at the AFA.  They started with a printed circuit board provided by a vendor (Chuck Green, Tucson), and cells from TechStar.   They assembled the cells into four strings then used space rated RTV to stuck them to the PCB.  Some further soldering was done then the PCB was stuck to the aluminum side panel of the satellite.  After a bit of a learning curve this worked very well; the panels did exactly what we expected.  This is also a pretty good shot of the thermal/spin tape that covers all sides and the top of the spacecraft.  This tape serves two purposes.  It will keep the temperature inside the satellite at about 20C (room temperature), and will also assure the satellite tumbles while in orbit. 

While testing the QM we used the clamp band that will hold the spacecraft to the mounting in the Shuttle payload bay.  As we lower it to the vibration table you can see the black round band that will pinch the two rings together - on on the bottom of FS-2 and one bolted on the table - together.

And here it is on the table ready for the X axis vibration test.  The clamp band is now in place and tightened.  We tested the QM to levels of temperature and vibration far in excess of what is required to fly on the shuttle.  The idea is to assure it can survive more than it will experience on the Shuttle.  This is necessary to assure not only that  the satellite will work after it is placed into orbit but also to be certain nothing will compromise the safety of the astronauts.

And as we were moving it between test locations (with protective solar panel covers in place) it seemed like a great opportunity to get a shot with the big flag on the wall of the test facility in the background.  You can also see the separation switches on the bottom of the satellite in this photo. Those switches isolate the battery and solar panels from the electronics in the spacecraft and assure nothing comes on until it is separated from the Shuttle.  In the far left corner of the bottom plate you can also see one of the sun sensors.  There is another on the top.  These will help determine the attitude of the satellite while in orbit.  Several cadet classes will have an opportunity to analyze data from those sensors along with other telemetry and work problems to determine which way the satellite is oriented in space.

Launch is set for mid January 2003.  Excitement is building in the Astro Department as we ramp up to build the flight model starting the first week of March. . .