Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 12:21:48 +0100 (CET)
From: Herwig Hoefner
To: Eq-S Community
Subj: Equator-S final orbit reached
The kick-manoeuvre was successfully executed on Thursday, December 11
at UT 18:38:16 and could be witnessed from Canberra ground station.
The remaining TM and GPS antennas were deployed soon after,
and finally the two magnetometer booms.
The spinrate after boom deployment is 40.35 rpm.
All the subsystems and scientific instruments onboard have been switched on
at least once;
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 21:11:19 +0100
To: Eq-S Community
From: G.PaschmannSubject: Eq-S on its final orbit
The kick-manoeuvre was successfully executed on time. The remaining TM and GPS antennas were deployed, and finally the two magntometer booms.Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 17:16:02 +0100
To: Eq-S Community
From: G.Paschmann
Subj.: Eq-S Kick-Manoeuvre Delayed
The firing of the kick motor was originally planned for perigee # 14 of the GTO
(i.e., Monday 8 December 16:41 UT). But due to delays in starting the
magnetorquing we will not have reached the required spinrate at that time.
Also, there is the need for a few perigee passes without torquing to improve
the attitude determination which is crucial for setting the precise time
for the kick manoeuvre. Folding in the requirement for ground contact so that
the manoeuvre can be followed from the ground, the next opportunities are
perigees 18 (Wednesday, 10 December) and 21 (Thursday, December 11). At this
time, perigee 21 is the likely choice, but the final decision has been deferred
until Monday.
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 1997 15:29:56 +0100
To: Members of the Eq-S SWT
From: G.Paschmann
Subj.: Eq-S in orbit
After a 15-minute delay due to weather conditions, Ariane flight 103 took off
from Kourou at 22:53 UT for a perfect flight. About 24 minutes into the
flight, Eq-S was separated from the rocket, and another 40 minutes later,
telemetry was received at NASA'a DSN station in Canberra. After a problem with
the upload bit-pattern at Canberra was fixed, the spacecraft could be commanded
as well. In the early morning hours the magnetometer was turned on and is
working well, given that the booms are not yet deployed. At this time, only a
small problem with the on-board RF-configuration remains to be clarified.
Over the next several days, GSOC will determine the best time to fire the
kick-motor, consistent with maximum permissable lunar shadow periods. The
commissioning phase will begin right after kick-motor firing and boom
deployment. Please check the Eq-S web-page for further information. Note that
the address has been simplified (http://www.mpe.mpg.de/EQS)