WEBVTT FILE

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.970


2
00:00:05.990 --> 00:00:08.580


3
00:00:08.600 --> 00:00:11.980
We've been working on TIRS since 2008.

4
00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:14.480
We're building it in-house at Goddard and these last two months of testing

5
00:00:14.500 --> 00:00:18.380
we ran 3 shifts a day to monitor the instrument 24/7.

6
00:00:18.400 --> 00:00:22.080
Because TIRS is a thermal instrument that measures temperature from space,

7
00:00:22.100 --> 00:00:25.280
we do our testing in a thermal vacuum chamber where we can control the temp and pressure.

8
00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:27.280


9
00:00:27.300 --> 00:00:29.980
At the front of the chamber is our calibration equipment.

10
00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.479
Behind is the TIRS instrument.

11
00:00:32.500 --> 00:00:36.200
Both sit on top of a sled that slides out of the chamber.

12
00:00:36.220 --> 00:00:38.199


13
00:00:38.220 --> 00:00:40.980
But before we move TIRS we need to do a thorough inspection.

14
00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:45.480
Photographs document the layout of wires to see if anything is touching that shouldn't be.

15
00:00:45.500 --> 00:00:52.019
It only takes a little bit of accidental contact to add an extra heat load to the cryo-cooler.

16
00:00:52.040 --> 00:00:53.230


17
00:00:53.250 --> 00:00:58.980
- So, OK, you can pull it out.

18
00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:01.480


19
00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:05.010
Once satisfied with our inspection we disconnect the wires and cooling lines

20
00:01:05.030 --> 00:01:07.720
from the instrument and the calibration equipment.

21
00:01:07.740 --> 00:01:10.020
Then we pull out the sled.

22
00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:12.020


23
00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:16.020
- And then we'll have three people out here pulling

24
00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:20.020
and everybody else that's not doing anything

25
00:01:20.040 --> 00:01:25.460
is going to be monitoring, making sure we don't catch any harnesses, cables, or whatnot.

26
00:01:25.480 --> 00:01:31.360


27
00:01:31.380 --> 00:01:36.100
We need someone in the back of the chamber to handle the connections on that side too.

28
00:01:36.120 --> 00:01:36.530


29
00:01:36.550 --> 00:01:38.730
They also help push the sled out.

30
00:01:38.750 --> 00:01:39.180


31
00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:40.980
- Thank you.

32
00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:47.140


33
00:01:47.160 --> 00:01:49.140
- Ready, Karl?
- Yes.

34
00:01:49.160 --> 00:01:51.679


35
00:01:51.700 --> 00:01:54.660
It doesn't feel that heavy, even though it's a lot of weight.

36
00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:58.660
The sled is engineered to roll pretty smoothly.

37
00:01:58.680 --> 00:02:00.660


38
00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:02.660
-Stop!

39
00:02:02.680 --> 00:02:06.660


40
00:02:06.680 --> 00:02:08.720
As we work we stay connected to a grounding wire,

41
00:02:08.740 --> 00:02:12.930
to keep static electricity from damaging the instrument.

42
00:02:12.950 --> 00:02:14.030


43
00:02:14.050 --> 00:02:16.730
- Watch your step, Michael.

44
00:02:16.750 --> 00:02:23.530


45
00:02:23.550 --> 00:02:26.730
- Stop!
- There it is.

46
00:02:26.750 --> 00:02:32.730


47
00:02:32.750 --> 00:02:38.730


48
00:02:38.750 --> 00:02:44.730


49
00:02:44.750 --> 00:02:50.730


50
00:02:50.750 --> 00:02:56.730


51
00:02:56.750 --> 00:03:04.750


52
00:03:04.770 --> 00:03:08.980
We need to completely cover the equipment before we open the protective tent.

53
00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:14.920
This keeps dust and other particulates from contaminating or damaging the instrument.

54
00:03:14.940 --> 00:03:16.320


55
00:03:16.340 --> 00:03:20.480
We'll move the whole platform down the hall with TIRS still on top.

56
00:03:20.500 --> 00:03:24.980


57
00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:31.330
- We're going to have Karl, Mike pushing from the back

58
00:03:31.350 --> 00:03:40.329


59
00:03:40.350 --> 00:03:44.019


60
00:03:44.040 --> 00:03:49.959
The platform rides on a cushion of air, kind of like an air hockey table, or a hovercraft.

61
00:03:49.980 --> 00:03:54.899


62
00:03:54.920 --> 00:04:00.839
It's pretty easy to steer, but we don't want to move too quickly and jolt the instrument .

63
00:04:00.860 --> 00:04:04.000


64
00:04:04.020 --> 00:04:09.940
The important thing is safety, because we are moving hundreds of pounds of equipment.

65
00:04:09.960 --> 00:04:15.940


66
00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:21.710


67
00:04:21.730 --> 00:04:24.840
Once we get TIRS in the cleanroom, we can do the final touches

68
00:04:24.860 --> 00:04:28.540
and get on with the rest of our environmental testing.

69
00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:31.140


70
00:04:31.160 --> 00:04:34.640
So far TIRS has done a beautiful job of providing the engineering team

71
00:04:34.660 --> 00:04:38.040
and the scientists with the data that they need.

72
00:04:38.060 --> 00:04:42.480
In many cases we're exceeding our requirements.  And that is very exciting.

73
00:04:42.500 --> 00:04:46.560
It's not only performing, but performing beautifully.

74
00:04:46.580 --> 00:05:16.000