Machinist Paul Weisman recently fabricated the power system electronics box. Working from a 36- by 48-inch blueprint, he began with a solid block of lightweight magnesium and programmed coordinates into a special tool called a Mazak Vertical Machining Center. The machine has a usable size limit of 24 by 42 inches. The high-speed precision computerized milling machine cuts and drills - based on the machinist's specifications - until the raw material is transformed into a finished product, a process that took about 40 hours for this electronics box.

"It's such a great feeling to know that the parts and pieces I've created will be part of an operating spacecraft," Weisman says.

Al Harris inspects the dimensions of a CONTOUR electronics module. (Click image for full size view)

Al Harris inspects all parts to make sure that they are fabricated precisely to the specifications on the blueprint. "Once that spacecraft is launched, we don't have a second chance to redo anything," Harris says.

Scheduled for a July 2002 launch, the CONTOUR spacecraft and two of its four scientific instruments are being built by APL which manages the mission for NASA. For complete information on the mission, please visit their home page.

Go to 2000 News Articles Archive