SWAS Spacecraft T/V Test, Unique In Chamber Tests Systems Actuation

The Sub-Millimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS) is the third mission of the Small Explorer (SMEX) Project at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). It is a path finding mission to study the chemical composition of interstellar galactic clouds to help determine the process of star formation. The spacecraft recently completed a month-long then-nal vacuum/thermal balance test in the Solar Environmental Simulator, the largest thermal vacuum facility at Goddard. Rather extensive fixturing was required for the test, considering the small size of the spacecraft, and two unusual deployments were completed in order to accomplish the goals of the test. This paper discusses the space simulation testing of the fully integrated SWAS spacecraft and the unique fixturing required.