AUGUST
1998: WF/PC (1) In the HST Cleanroom
This is
a wide angle view of the main HST cleanroom at NASA/GSFC.
The WF/PC (1) instrument is the pie-shaped structure a
little left of center, pointing at the High fidelity Mechanical
Simulator (HFMS). The round structure at the right is
the electrical simulator for HST. At the left is the Flight
Support System that is used with the Space Shuttle during
Servicing Missions. It contains the mechanisms that berth
the HST to the Space Shuttle, as well as electronics for
power and command/telemetry during servicing. At the bottom
right is one of the carriers used to bring the scientific
instruments to orbit. The configuration shown carried
a Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) as well as the Space Telescope
Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) during Servicing Mission 2.
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 Another
view of the HST cleanroom.
|
 A close-up view
of the WF/PC (1) in front of the HST mechanical
simulator.
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The WF/PC (1) being
moved by the counterbalance fixture that is used to insert
the instrument into the HST mechanical simulator. This
fixture also serves to approximate a 0-g environment for
astronaut training.
The external
radiator of the WF/PC (1). The panel in the center provides
access to the power supplies in the instrument. The red
cap on the right seals a port that was used to flood the
WF/PC (1) CCD detectors with solar radiation. This procedure
was used to improve the accuracy of the detectors by minimizing
an effect called quantum efficiency hysteresis. The small
hole on the left is used by the astronauts to activate
the mechanism that latches the instrument into the HST.
Side view
of the WF/PC (1) showing the tube that guides the solar
radiation from the port on the radiator to the front of
the instrument, where it enters the optical train. The
inner black box with rivets is the instrument enclosure.
The aluminum structure framing the instrument is a fixture
that checks the location of the latches on the instrument.
 Another
view of the same side of the instrument. |
-
 This is the view
of the instrument from the end that is inserted
into the HST. The Pickoff Mirror is obscured
by the aluminum fixture.
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Continuing the views around the instrument, we come to
the side that contains the main (blind mate) connector
for the instrument. This connector is on the aluminum
block about half way back from the front of the instrument.
This same block contains the engagement mechanism that
is used by the astronauts to latch the instrument in place.
This mechanism is operated using the shaft that extends
to the rear radiator.
This is a full
side view of the same side as above.
