NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Camera System

TESS will perform a two year survey of the 200,000 brightest stars in the sky to monitor changes in brightness caused by planetary transits occurring outside of our solar system.  The goal being to identify smaller planets orbiting bright stars, good candidates for new earths and super earths, which can be further characterized along with their atmospheres.  MIT Lincoln Labs is providing the Four Wide Field-of-View (24° x 24°) CCD Cameras, Orbital ATK builds and operates the LEOStar-2 spacecraft, NASA GSFC is providing project management, systems engineering and safety/mission assurance and the TESS Spacecraft will be launched into high earth orbit (HEO) on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Full Thrust rocket. 

Flotron 700 Series Rotation Fixture:
An off-the-shelf 700 series Rotation Fixture is shown below supporting the integration activities and provides adequate swing clearance without sacrificing ergonomic operating height.  This rating of this Engineered solution considers the appropriate dynamic loading condition and safety factors.  The Flotron is compatible in an ISO 6, CLASS 1K clean room environment.  All of the moving parts and hardware are either electro-less nickel plated or stainless steel.  The end frames are finished with gloss white powder coat.  Compatible lubricants have been specified.  The gearbox is sealed and pressure tested.  Leveling jacks have been incorporated to level the Flotron on uneven floors and help to stabilize the fixture.  The caster wheels were selected to maximize rollability while considering payload sensitivity during transport.  Additional details about Flotron’s 700 Series Rotation Fixtures can be found at www.flotron.com/products/700-series.