Fixing What's Broken

Abstract

We planned to launch in July 2000. Heading into March that year we were on schedule, under budget, meeting all of our performance requirements, and ready for the final testing Near the end of the day, it was time for the sign burst test. For 200 milliseconds we would put a non-feedback force on our system, which meant we couldn't adjust or halt the test in progress. Something went wrong, terribly wrong during the sign burst test. For 200 milliseconds we would put a non-feedback force on our system, which meant we couldn't adjust or halt the test in process. Something went wrong, terribly wrong during the sign burst test. As mission manager, I was standing just ten feet away from the spacecraft when this happened. It sounded like a clap of thunder. With the test stopped, we moved in closer to see what had happened - and we knew immediately that we had damaged our spacecraft. How much, we didn't know.