BurstCube Completes an Open-Sky Test

This video shows engineers conducting an open-sky test of the BurstCube satellite’s GPS at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The first shot shows Benjamin Nold (NASA) and Justin Clavette (SSAI) sitting around the spacecraft on a rooftop while Kate Gasaway (NASA) works in the background. The second shot shows Gasaway and Clavette looking at a laptop in the background, with BurstCube in the foreground. The third shot shows birds landing on an antenna on the rooftop. The fourth shot shows Clavette and Nold crouched next to the BurstCube satellite. The fifth shot shows Gasaway typing on the laptop. The sixth shot is a closer view of Gasaway and Clavette looking at the laptop. The eighth shot shows some of the electronics used to monitor the spacecraft. The ninth shot shows the data readout from the spacecraft on the laptop. The final shots show birds flying over the rooftop.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Engineers Benjamin Nold (NASA) and Justin Clavette (SSAI) sit next to the BurstCube satellite during a rooftop test at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Alt-text: This photograph shows two men sitting next to a spacecraft on a rooftop.

Descriptive text: Two men in long-sleeved blue jackets sit on a rooftop in this image. Between them a small, shiny, rectangular spacecraft rests on top of a black case. Behind them is a card with additional equipment. In the background is a wall with a staircase leading to another level of the roof. The sky above is blue and streaked with white clouds.

Engineer Justin Clavette (SSAI) sits next to the BurstCube satellite on a rooftop at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, during the mission’s open-sky testing.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Alt-text: This photograph shows a man sitting next to a spacecraft on a rooftop.

Descriptive text: In this image, a man in a long-sleeved blue jacket, khaki pants, striped socks, and blue shoes sits on a rooftop. In front of him a small, shiny, rectangular spacecraft sits on top of a black case. Bundles of cable are connected to the spacecraft and snake off to right side. He’s looking up at a dusky sky, which behind him is streaked with puffy pink and purple clouds. The horizon shows a line of treetops.

The BurstCube satellite undergoes an open-sky test to evaluate its GPS in this photograph taken on a rooftop at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts.

Alt text: This photograph shoes a spacecraft sitting on a black case under an open sky.

Descriptive text: This image shows a smally, shiny, rectangular spacecraft resting on top of a black case. The case has both a sticky note and a sticker that read: “TVAC Cables.” Behind and to the right is a wall with broad white panels. The sky is blue and streaked with white clouds.

Benjamin Nold (NASA) sits cross-legged next to the BurstCube satellite on a rooftop at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, during the mission’s open-sky testing.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Alt-text: This photograph shows a man sitting next to a spacecraft on a rooftop.

Descriptive text: A man in a long-sleeved blue jacket and blue jeans sits on a rooftop in this image. An orange hoody peaks out of the top of the jacket. He’s sitting next to a small, shiny, rectangular spacecraft on top of a black case. He looks up and to the left. Behind him is a blue sky.

Engineers Benjamin Nold (NASA) and Justin Clavette (SSAI) prepare the BurstCube satellite for testing on a rooftop at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts

Alt text: This photograph shows two men on a rooftop working on a small spacecraft.

Descriptive text: On the left-hand side of this photograph, a man in a long-sleeved blue jacket sits cross-legged on a rooftop. He’s supporting a small, shiny, rectangular spacecraft sitting on a black case. The case has a sticky note and a sticker that both read “TVAC Cables.” On the right-hand side, another man in a long-sleeved teal jacket leans down toward the satellite. In the background are structures on the rooftop including a gray wall rising behind the group.