Ormand Shelf, by Jason Weingart
Image Caption
A large shelf cloud formation approaches Ormand Beach, Florida
Date and Location:
May 15, 2012
Ormond Beach, Florida
GPM: Hurricanes Beyond the Tropics
On August 28, 2011, Tropical Storm Irene hit Vermont, causing widespread damage and the worst flooding in 75 years. Irene's impact in New England shows that tropical cyclones can greatly affect regions outside the view of TRMM. The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission will build upon TRMM's legacy by examining a larger swath of Earth with more sensitive instruments.
GPM Mission Operation Review
The Mission Operation Review for GPM was held on August 15th and 16th. The agenda included operation reviews of the ground systems, launch and early orbit, instruments, spacecraft decommissioning, and overall mission activities
Solar Array Vibration and Acoustic Testing
GPM's two solar array wings completed vibration and acoustic testing at Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. The solar arrays were integrated to an identical copy of the Lower Bus Structure of the satellite for this testing. These tests and deployments demonstrate the ability of the solar array to withstand the vibrations and sounds the satellite will be subject to during launch as well as test the ability of the solar arrays to unfold once in orbit. Diagram of the GPM Core Observatory depicting various components of the Solar Array Assembly.
GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) Testing
The GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) successfully completed a walkout deployment, spin-up and functional and interface testing after being integrated onto the core spacecraft in May, 2012. These series of tests confirmed electrical and functional performance of the GMI with the GPM Core Observatory. The GMI undergoing mechanical integration in March 2012.