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A normal day...
May. 18th, 2004 08:59 pmWhatever that is.
Today, while helping resolve an issue, I got my first view of the Intelsat 10, which is the satellite that's going into orbit in just about a month's time. It was about as up-close-and-personal look as anyone not directly involved in prepping the bird for orbit is going to get any time soon. Regrettably, no pictures are permitted in the clean room, which is where the satellite is being serviced, and where I saw it.
The "clean room" is la salle blanche in French (literally, "the white room"... which it isn't, BTW; what isn't bare metal is painted yellow) or чистовая комната in Russian (literally, "the finishing room"). As the name implies, it is intended to be a clean environment, and one takes precautions before entering, such as donning a smock that goes down to your knees, what looks like a paper shower cap for the hair, and coverings for one's shoes. Furthermore, the approach to the main hall is a warren where you notice there's a wind always blowing at you.
The satellite was about what I expected in terms of size (after all, I'd seen the container it came in), and mostly I came away with the impression of silver, bronze and black colors, and the bottom halves of engineers standing under the center part of it, their upper bodies hidden by the bottom of the satellite.
The rest of the day was fairly routine, and tomorrow promises to be more of the same.
Cheers...
Today, while helping resolve an issue, I got my first view of the Intelsat 10, which is the satellite that's going into orbit in just about a month's time. It was about as up-close-and-personal look as anyone not directly involved in prepping the bird for orbit is going to get any time soon. Regrettably, no pictures are permitted in the clean room, which is where the satellite is being serviced, and where I saw it.
The "clean room" is la salle blanche in French (literally, "the white room"... which it isn't, BTW; what isn't bare metal is painted yellow) or чистовая комната in Russian (literally, "the finishing room"). As the name implies, it is intended to be a clean environment, and one takes precautions before entering, such as donning a smock that goes down to your knees, what looks like a paper shower cap for the hair, and coverings for one's shoes. Furthermore, the approach to the main hall is a warren where you notice there's a wind always blowing at you.
The satellite was about what I expected in terms of size (after all, I'd seen the container it came in), and mostly I came away with the impression of silver, bronze and black colors, and the bottom halves of engineers standing under the center part of it, their upper bodies hidden by the bottom of the satellite.
The rest of the day was fairly routine, and tomorrow promises to be more of the same.
Cheers...
