Design
| Enviro |
Astro | Propulsion
| Power | Thermal
| Structures | AD&C
| CDHS |
Test
Final
assembly and testing
takes place at the launch site in the order discussed
below.
Launch Site
Receipt
of
the spacecraft includes an overall inspection and
propulsion system leak check.
Deployable
ordnance
is installed for the solar arrays, antenna and sensor
appendages.
Propellant
is loaded into the propulsion system. This is often
highly toxic and carefully handled. Solid rockets
are also installed at this time, such as apogee
kick motors (AKM).
Launch
vehicle
selection is an expensive and critical consideration
in satellite design, with current launch costs about
$10,000 per kilogram of payload.
Mating
and shrouding
attaches the spacecraft to
its launch vehicle, covered with an aerodynamic
cone-shaped protective shell.
Transport
from the assembly
building to the launch site positions the launch
vehicle on its pad.
Interfaces
between
the spacecraft and launch vehicle are checked after
transport to launch site.
Batteries
are
charged and installed to complete spacecraft tests
and prepare for orbital electrical loading before
the solar arrays are deployed to generate electricity.
Countdown
is a regimented list of checks and double checks
to ensure spacecraft and launch vehicle systems
are fully operational before launch.
