Stardust Status Report January 28, 2000
There were eleven Deep Space Network (DSN) passes to support the completion
of Deep Space Maneuver 1 (DSM-1) and transition to All-Stellar
attitude. The overall spacecraft performance for DSM-1 was outstanding.
The total burn was 5884.4 seconds and used 29.3410 kg of propellant.
The ending tank pressure was 157 psia, approximately 7 psia higher than
expected. This means that the Comet Wild 2 encounter tank pressure has an
additional 7 psia margin (a 100% increase in margin). The total
spacecraft measured delta V was 159.4279 meters/second while the
Navigation Team estimates a delta V of 159.013 meters/second. The power
and thermal performance for all three portions of DSM-1 was also better
than predicted.
Transition to All-Stellar was accomplished. The actual transition was
delayed one day to provide DSN support for Mars Polar Lander command
activities.
The All-Stellar transition had one multiple thruster firing, captured
in high rate attitude telemetry that is now being analyzed. The
background flight sequence, SC013 Part 4, was modified to collect high rate
attitude data at selected times in order to provide additional insight
into the multiple firings. The plan is to remain in All-Stellar
attitude this week to collect sufficient data to determine the
statistics of multiple firings. Contingency commands are available to
return to Gyro Based attitude determine if necessary.
Flight sequence SC013 is the active sequence. Sequence SC014 has
been reviewed, and includes the aerogel deployment for the first
Interstellar Collection Period.
A review was completed of the science activities to obtain existing
reduced earth-based Comet Wild 2 observations, taken during the 1997
apparition, project-produced comet models of dust production,
particle lifetime as a function of size, and nucleus albedo and rotation
properties. A STARDUST-organized Wild 2 Observation and Modeling
Workshop and Peer Review will be held later this year
For more information on the STARDUST mission – the first ever
comet sample return mission – please visit the STARDUST home page:
