Monthly 9_25 Page 1

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Monthly Status Report Report due 9/25/00 Schedule
statused as of Sep. 1, 2000
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Project Status Summary

• Technical
• Jul Aug Sep

Programmatic Jul Aug Sep
Resources Jul Aug Sep
Schedule Jul Aug Sep
Detailed Description (for items identified as
yellow or red)

• Over the last period we continued with flight
  fabrication. We also delivered prototypes of ELS
  and IMA to Europe as pathfinders for future
  flight model testing.
• A new concern surfaced over the last month. The
  MCPs delivered to us from IRF for IMA had several
  blemishes and stains. We sent these parts back
  to IRF for further disposition. We are in the
  process of updating our test flow / delivery to
  reflect the uncertainty regarding the MCPs.
• The manufacture of the high tolerance ELS parts
  by an outside subcontractor continues to be a
  concern. The late delivery of the parts will
  likely effect final flight unit delivery
• Latest project photos and videos are available
  on Aspera-3 web site.

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Problem and Concern Summary
PProblem CConcern RResolved
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Accomplishments of the Last Month -ELS

• Received finished machined sets 1 and 2 from
  Hyperfine. Parts do not meet spec but may be
  acceptable as flight spare.
• Hyperfine thinks they have determined the reason
  for out of spec condition. Process will be
  modified on set 3.
• Parts were delivered to Walton Plating for UV
  blackening. We have received the first (which is
  the better machined) set back. Second set is
  held up while Walton personnel are on vacation.
• Started rough machining of a third set of parts
  to supply to Hyperfine.
• Delivered prototype ELS to MSSL to be used as a
  pathfinder for flight and flight spare sensor
  calibration.
• Delivered ELS STM to IRF on 8/28/00.
• Both amp boards are complete, inspected and bench
  tested.

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Accomplishments of the Last Month ELS (cont.)

• HVPS 1 is complete, inspected, bench tested and
  characterized over temperature. HVPS 2 is
  complete, inspected, bench tested and will be
  characterized over temperature 9/22-9/25.
• Electronics set 1 has been integrated together
  and have completed functional and thermal test.
  Electronics set 2 will be integrated,
  functionally tested and thermal cycled starting
  9/26.
• Met with FMI (DPU and flight software lead)
  following ASPERA-3 team meeting. We reviewed ELS
  electrical interface, characterization of the DPU
  over temperature, flight software and ELS data
  compression techniques.

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Accomplishments of the Last Month - IMA

• Assembled flight and flight spare electronics for
  thermal test (w/o MCPs). Completed test with no
  anomalies.
• Inspected flight MCPs in preparation for flight
  assembly of both units. Identified several
  blemishes and stains. Sent the MCPs back to
  IRF for their disposition.
• Have started discussions with IRF about potential
  new plan where we deliver IMA electronics to IRF
  sans MCPs. IRF assumes the responsibility for
  MCP installation (with our support) and testing
  after MCP installation. This change should not
  effect our delivery date or budget.

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Accomplishments of the Last Month - Data
Reduction Software

• Began Addressing TBDs in the APAF Software
  Development Plan (SDP), V1.1
• Will Release Version 1.2 November, 2000
• Began Updates to the APAF Project Data Management
  Plan (PDMP), V1.0 per PDS Comments
• Will Release Version 1.1 December, 2000
• Delivered APAF Data System Interface Document
  (DSID), V1.0 to PDS
• Waiting for Feedback
• APAF Software Requirements Documentation is
  Currently on Hold Due to Lack of Information
  Concerning ASPERA-3 Packet Definitions
• Continued Providing Technical Assistance for EPO
  Web Information
• Continued Defining and Implementing IDFS Web
  Tools
• Provided Software Support for ELS
  Characterization
• Held monthly ASPERA-3 Software Status Meeting
  (September 22, 2000)

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Planned Activities for the Next Month - ELS

• (Hopefully) receive MCP flight set 5 to complete
  the order.
• Finish rough machining set 3 parts. Deliver
  parts to Hyperfine. Receive high tolerance parts
  from Hyperfine.
• Deliver parts to England for UV coating.
• Finish flight electronics 2 thermal test.
• Assemble flight spare unit.
• Begin flight spare unit characterization and high
  voltage testing.

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Planned Activities for the Next Month - IMA

• Assemble flight and flight spare units with dummy
  MCPs.
• Perform vibe test on both units.
• Start vacuum testing beginning with high voltage
  breakdown tests.
• Begin characterization testing.

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Planned Activities for the Next Month - Data
Reduction Software Tasks

• Continue Providing Technical Assistance for EPO
  Web Information
• Continue Defining and Implementing IDFS Web Tools
• Continue Addressing TBDs in the APAF Software
  Development Plan (SDP), V1.1
• Continue Updates to the APAF Project Data
  Management Plan (PDMP), V1.0
• Begin Defining Packet Definitions for ELS

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Problem and Concern Status

• Alignment of ELS
• This remains our biggest concern. We have
  received two sets of parts from Hyperfine. None
  of the parts meet spec though they may be
  acceptable as flight spare. We are rough
  machining another set of parts for Hyperfine per
  their new directions and process. The parts
  will then be sent to Hyperfine for precision
  machining. Walton Plating is shut down until Oct
  10. We are shooting to have set 3 to Walton at
  that time for UV blackening. The problems with
  the machining and blackening will likely cause us
  to slightly slip delivery of ELS. We have
  discussed this with IRF MSSL. They do not see
  any problems with slipping the delivery. We will
  be discussing this officially with them and NASA
  in the coming week.
• Hyperfines theory on why the parts are out of
  spec is that too little material was left for the
  precision machining operation. The rough
  machining since it was to near final dimensions
  effected the grain structure of the part making
  it impossible for Hyperfine to precision machine
  the part to the specified tolerance. The rough
  machining of the next set of parts will leave
  much more material so that the grain structure is
  not disturbed.

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Problem and Concern Status (cont.)

• IMA MCPs
• A new concern we inspected the IMA MCPs during
  the last month and identified several blemishes
  and stains. These plates were procured and
  provided as CFE by IRF. We sent the plates back
  to IRF for IRF to disposition. At IRFs
  suggestion, we are looking at modifying our test
  and delivery plan to deliver IMA to IRF without
  MCPs. This places the responsibility for the
  MCPs solely on IRF and protects our schedule and
  budget. The proposed test plan (which will be
  discussed with IRF and NASA) still has us
  performing vibration, high voltage, and
  characterization testing of both IMA units. We
  will also support IRF post-delivery for MCP
  installation and testing. The proposed plan does
  not effect our delivery schedule or budget.

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Schedule Summary

• ELS The manufacture of the high precision parts
  to spec and the subsequent UV blackening is the
  critical path on the schedule for delivery of the
  flight unit.
• We are currently updating the schedule to reflect
  the latest knowledge about availability of
  personnel and current plan for testing and
  delivery.
• Discussions with IRF / NASA / MSSL will continue
  and will be finalized in the coming weeks.

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Schedule Summary (cont.)

• IMA Likewise, we are in the process of
  updating our schedule to reflect the new proposed
  plan for delivery of IMA. We feel confident that
  we can still make the current delivery date under
  the new plan and are still planning on a Pre-ship
  Review the week of Nov. 13. The new schedule /
  plan will be reported upon at the upcoming
  Monthly Status Telcon.
• Software activities continue to be on schedule.
• The full-up schedule is available on the ASPERA-3
  Web site.

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ASPERA-3 PHASE B/C/D MASTER SCHEDULE