MSX GROUND OPERATIONS

The multidisciplinary nature of ground operations necessitates careful planning from the start of any space program. For the Midcourse Space Experiment, ground operations began at APL with integration and test and continued at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center with environment al and system-level electrical testing. Mission operations simulations were conducted at every opportunity. The spacecraft and its ground su pport equipment were then flown to Vandenberg Air Force Base, where ad ditional testing and simulations were conducted and the spacecraft was prepared for launch.