STATUS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS
This week we conducted detailed schedule reviews with approx. half of our 
subsystems and we will continue next week.  In addition to tracking, we 
focused on detailing & integrating a 6 month rolling wave schedule with 
each subsystem.  We also started discussions with the GSFC Resource 
Analysis Office (RAO) regarding their independent cost estimate.  RAO has a 
draft of the S/C portion which needs a little more work but is close to our 
grassroots estimate.  Next week we will have discussions with RAO in the 
instrument & ground system areas.

The systems team also participated in the subsystem schedule walkthroughs, 
using the opportunity to provide input in the subsystem development flow, 
deliverable linkage for the subsystems, & address other technical issues 
related to the subsystem development.  The mechanical & propulsion teams 
completed a draft of the updated mechanical and propulsion subsystem 
concept which is being reviewed by the rest of the SDO team.  This update 
addresses mass, volume, & robustness areas identified by the Project & SCR 
review teams.  As part of the development process, the systems team 
participated in a variety of technical and development issues, such as 
instrument accommodation issues, ground system requirements, science data 
capture and completeness budget updates, single board computer requirements 
and procurement issues, electrical specification development, and 
spacecraft timing concept review.  In the area of power, we are revisiting 
our solar array sizing & electronics approach to ensure proper 
design/margin.  To meet the worst case (failed battery cell) exit of 
eclipse voltage conditions at end-of-life, we are assessing possible 
options which include: increasing available power from the array, modifying 
the electronics operation to include some form of buck regulation, or some 
combination of both.

For the Instruments, work continued on the accommodation of the 
reorientation of the SPECTRE assembly of the SHARPP instrument. The 
preferred solution is converging and we are working the 
details.  Relocating the KCOR CCD camera electronics and providing 
unobstructed CCD and instrument radiator fields of view for all of the 
SHARPP assemblies are the challenging constraints.  We have a face-to-face 
meeting with the NRL SHARPP team this Friday (5/9).  Work also continued on 
the consolidation of the baseline instrument interface requirements and the 
draft content of the associated instrument ICDs.  We have generated ICD 
outlines for the subsystems we have previously interviewed.  A great deal 
of the credit goes to Steve Merrihew who is spearheading this effort.  We 
also worked closely with the SDO Program Exec to update a critical 
international Letter of Agreement (LOA) with Italy for their contribution 
of the SPECTRE assembly to the SHARPP instrument suite.  We incorporated 
and reconciled extensive LOA comments from the HQs international 
group.  The substance of the agreement remained fundamentally unchanged 
however there was significant language change proposed which was 
addressed.  The CCD and camera electronics modification (eng. units/demo) 
to the NRL contract is in place which enables NRL to start the joint buy 
for the HMI and SHARPP teams.  The HMI and SHARPP teams will visit E2V 
(CCDs) and RAL (camera electronics) next week to kick off the effort.

EVE continued their series of internal subsystem peer reviews to 
consolidate and integrate EVE system requirements.  Peer reviews for the 
MEGS electrical interface, low voltage power supply, and thermal subsystems 
were completed.  Mechanical subsystem and flight software peer reviews are 
scheduled for next week.  The results of these internal review will be 
consolidated into a presentation to the EVE science team on May 
22-23.  This baseline will be the basis for EVE's plans and costs estimates 
which will be provided in the Phase A Concept Study Report (CSR).  In fact, 
EVE has completed their first cut at the draft CSR and it is being 
circulated internally for comment.

HMI completed their reliability enhancement study and provided detailed 
charts to the project.  The SDO systems group is reviewing the data and 
will make a recommendation so that a decision on the enhancements can occur 
within 2 weeks.  ICD definition work continues with specific discussions in 
the areas of: thermal models, mechanical model and accommodations, 1553 bus 
communications, ground system Science Operations Center interface, 
electronics box configuration, and launch loads.  The HMI preliminary parts 
list has been reviewed by the SDO parts engineer and comments have been 
provided to the HMI team.

For Flight Assurance, the Reliability group continues to define the 
schedule objectives of the reliability effort between SCR and PDR 
(12/03).  Specific work assignments have been distributed and the group is 
meeting weekly to share results.  Biweekly status meetings are held to 
status the progress of those objectives.  General objectives include the 
Reliability Block Diagrams, Fault Tree Analysis, Probabilistic Risk 
Assessment, & the Failure Modes & Effects Analyses.  System specific areas 
include the Ka-Band subsystem, HMI reliability assessment, High gain 
antenna deployment approach, propulsion system, battery configuration 
assessment, and ground system reliability/availability.  In the area of 
Risk Management (RM), the SDO RM coordinator began the monthly update of 
SDO risks in preparation for our end of month Risk Management Review Board 
meeting.  We also began working with the GSFC Systems Management Office to 
create an SDO-specific Risk Management Training curriculum.

In the area on CM & Project Support, the team continues to coordinate 
comments to the Mission Assurance Requirements document & is in the process 
of updating the action item database with the systems team.  In addition, 
the CM team conducted an outstanding demo of our soon (mid June 2003) to be 
on-line Document & CCR system.  The Project Support group continues working 
Property activities, key cards, Travel Manager training, office facility 
updates, Project documentation, & financial training.

Thanks,
Ken

"Failure can be bought on easy terms; success must be paid for in advance."
Cullen Hightower

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