GPM

The GPM Core Observatory is continuing with the environmental test program at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Following the completion of thermal vacuum testing in January 2013, the Core Observatory team started the Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) test phase. The Core Observatory has successfully completed the Radio Frequency (RF) Self-Compatibility test and is being prepared for the next step of EMI/EMC test program. The EMI/EMC test program is expected to be completed in April 2013.

The NASA Precipitation Measurement Missions (PMM) Science Team for the TRMM and GPM missions met on March 18-21, 2013 in Annapolis, MD. This meeting included oral, poster, and evening working group sessions covering mission/program status, algorithm development activities, international partner reports, science activities, field campaign results, and other science team business. More than 175 scientists from 11 countries participated. The TRMM satellite is now in its 16th year of on-orbit operation and the GPM Core Observatory is scheduled to launch in early 2014.

The GPM Core Observatory is lifted out of the Thermal Vacuum Chamber at NASA Goddard. Video Credit: Ryan Fitzgibbons (ambient audio only) The GPM Core Observatory completed thermal vacuum testing at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. on Jan. 16, 2013. After twelve days to carefully remove the testing equipment, stow the High Gain Antenna and GPM Microwave Imager, and lift the spacecraft out of the thermal vacuum test chamber, the spacecraft was moved back to the clean room on Jan. 28. Preparing the GPM Core Observatory to be removed from the thermal vacuum chamber. Beginning

The GPM Core spacecraft has completed hot and cold thermal balance testing in the thermal vacuum chamber at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Next it will undergo hot and cold cycle thermal vacuum testing, where the temperatures are alternatively raised to 104°F (40 degrees C) and lowered to 7°F (-14 degrees C) over the course of the next few weeks. Thermal vacuum testing is part of GPM's environmental test program to ensure that the satellite is ready for the harsh conditions of space and will continue into mid-January. See a video of the GPM Core Observatory entering the thermal vacuum

(ambient audio only) On Tuesday Nov. 13, 2012, the GPM observatory moved from the clean room to the thermal vacuum chamber. The spacecraft, wrapped in protective blankets, made the short trip by crane across the testing facility where it was then lowered into the 40-foot test chamber. On Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission Core Observatory began thermal vacuum testing at NASA's Goddard Space flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Thermal vacuum testing is part of GPM's environmental test program to ensure that the satellite is ready for the harsh conditions of