Video Transcript: Aquarius Update: Episode 2 - Solar Panels Attached

[00:00:06]Hi, this is Amit Sen. I'm the JPL Aquarius project manager and I'll be periodically updating you as we

[00:00:14]go towards launch this June. We recently integrated, or put together, the solar panels of the spacecraft.

[00:00:21]There are two panels on the spacecraft. The panels captures sunlight, converts them into electricity and

[00:00:29]charges the battery, which makes the observatory work. We put the spacecraft in a very horizontal position

[00:00:35]where we can work on them. Planks were placed around the spacecraft so that the people working on it are safe

[00:00:44]and tethered, and the spacecraft doesn't get harmed. So we gently place the panel and then we place the second

[00:00:54]panel. When we're in space there is no gravity, so we have to provide a mechanism to offload the gravity

[00:01:01]while we're testing here on Earth. After that, we manually deploy the panels so that it knows exactly where

[00:01:11]it is and how it is deployed properly. We then made the deployment through the spacecraft itself as

[00:01:18]it will do in space.

[00:01:20](Sound of deployment)

[00:01:33](Applause)

[00:01:37]Once that was confirmed, we put some light on the panel to make sure the panels are alive and working.

[00:01:44]A very critical operation that is needed for the spacecraft. This is Amit Sen and this has been an update

[00:01:50]as we take you closer and closer to our launch.