NASAs Lucy spacecraft releasing its solar selections. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA prepares to perform additional ground tests on an engineering design of the Lucy solar array motor and lanyard prior to possibly attempting full release of among the probes solar arrays.
A project team completed an assessment on December 1 of the continuous solar selection issue, which did not appear to completely release as prepared after launch in late October. Initial ground tests determined additional motor operations are needed to increase the possibility of the latching Lucys range in place as planned, and the group has actually advised additional screening.
Spacecraft operations consisted of discharging and charging the battery while pointed at Earth, moving the spacecraft to indicate the Sun, operating the solar selection motor with the launch day parameters, moving back to pointing at Earth, and after that another battery discharge and recharge. The solar ranges charge the batteries, then the batteries are deliberately discharged, and the solar selection circuits are utilized to charge the batteries; carrying out these charging and discharging processes provides the team more details about the solar variety circuits.
By NASA
December 10, 2021
The team collected info on two of the 10 gores– the specific solar variety panel sectors that make up the complete range– that previously had no data. NASA now has data on all 10 gores confirming they are open, producing power as expected, and not stuck together.
These activities are helping the agency develop a robust strategy for trying to totally deploy the range. Additional ground tests utilizing the engineering model setup will verify a two-motor attempt for full release. NASA presently is developing a schedule and the resources needed to support that effort, in addition to continuing to study the possibility of leaving the variety as is.