#PI_Daily
Starting January 1, 2020…
a new series of daily mission activity Tweets from Psyche Principal Investigator (PI) Lindy Elkins-Tanton.
#PI_Daily
The goal? To share an inside look at the chores, challenges, tasks, assignments, duties, and more taken on by a NASA mission PI!
Follow along on @MissionToPsyche or below.
Thanks for covering @MissionToPsyche, @orbitalindex!#PI_Daily https://t.co/ZyU3Hr0gf4
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 13, 2021
"…Kalliope and Psyche…the two densest bodies known so far after the telluric planets. …then their average density…should be in the ∼4.0-4.8 g cm−3 range."
New paper helpful for @MissionToPsyche
👏 for the team who did this work!#PI_Daily @ESOhttps://t.co/A8ifAakWaE— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 12, 2021
We are thinking about ways to involve more postdocs and junior faculty in the @MissionToPsyche science team.
What ideas do you have?
Some goals: Increase familiarity with missions, inspire new science
Some constraints: Data security, bandwidth for mentorship, $#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/Z0E8DaNSCe— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 8, 2021
Art from our @MissionToPsyche Inspired Interns: See it in person, as well as at the virtual site below:
– The MOXI STEAM museum in Santa Barbara, CA Oct. 12, 2021 – Mar. 25, 2022
– The Phoenix Airport Museum, multiple terminals, Jan.-June 2022#PI_Daily https://t.co/nTvzQUEqi9
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 7, 2021
Hybrid all-team meeting for @MissionToPsyche! 48 distanced, masked ppl in the room (so good to see everyone!) and 101 ppl online. Here’s some Psyche Inspired art on display. #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/7WXcUVH9pl
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 5, 2021
Hey @SpaceX can you do a time lapse like this for @MissionToPsyche? (Comms w partners via social media – #PI_Daily pro tip 😜)
Go @LucyMission Go! https://t.co/6VjrAGrJQ0— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 5, 2021
Some glamour shots of our science instruments. The integration process is incredible, but I can't wait to see what the instruments discover for us! #PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche https://t.co/KR9rcoVc1m
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 4, 2021
Celebrating the inspiration of space exploration today.
As Christopher Toth said to @RobGMacfarlane,"If you're not exploring, you're just…waiting."
You can see and download the @MissionToPsyche Inspired art on https://t.co/0MXQg5xAXF. #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/WRv01kA0wu
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 29, 2021
#PI_Daily Today is @MissionToPsyche Super Tuesday (#meetings) PLUS System-Level Test-Readiness Review for Electro-Magnetic Interference and Compatibility (TRR Sys-Level EMI/EMC). We'll discuss all the test plans, w a review board. Let's make sure she works when it's all running! pic.twitter.com/hD0q4ywuSm
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 28, 2021
Every month we get 2- and 3-hr instrument reviews, in addition to an all-day MMR for the project. Today: imager. Some testing has been complicated by local power outages. Every kind of challenge you can imagine, a project this size has to contend with! #PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche pic.twitter.com/fui3J61jiN
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 27, 2021
Decades of expertise in Hall thrusters with @marstimrdad. We've been on the @MissionToPsyche team together for 8 years now! #PI_Daily https://t.co/KY2wBaeKrJ
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 23, 2021
It's Monthly Management Review day for @MissionToPsyche, and with a fair amount of good news! Amazing how it lifts my mood. We are in crunch time, only an ultramarathon of crunch time, eleven months of it 'til launch. #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/b9Cm5RrQtD
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 22, 2021
The great Hal helps explain Lagrange points! #PI_Daily https://t.co/q4fsdJCzzT
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 22, 2021
Love our @MissionToPsyche Hall-effect SPT thrusters! First time they'll be used outside Earth-Moon orbit. #PI_Daily https://t.co/12fK2CgGSK
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 20, 2021
Heading back to Arizona tomorrow. See you soon, gorgeous @MissionToPsyche spacecraft! #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/DeRrT623fu
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 17, 2021
It's 320 days to the opening of @MissionToPsyche's launch period!
Today reviewed thermal-vacuum test plan. S/c will go thru hot & cold temps and mimic mission phases, to validate the thermal models (will science instruments stay w/in T parameters?) and check systems.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/X8C4uQ3j9G
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 15, 2021
In between brainstorming and problem-solving with @MissionToPsyche team at @NASAJPL, we did some filming with the beautiful spacecraft and @TrueStoryFilms in the high bay.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/2LeMplJyNl
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 14, 2021
Two deer wander toward the resting buck on the lawns by @NASAJPL’s front gate. A highlight of today was a meeting with some @SpaceX launch team members. Long good #PI_Daily day for @MissionToPsyche. pic.twitter.com/KjU56vKNko
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 14, 2021
#PI_Daily the robotic team spreading out through the solar system to learn more about how our rocky planets were built. #TeamAsteroidMission https://t.co/U7ZiUG3r83
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 10, 2021
Would Psyche look like this if the metal and rock were in large provinces?
Art by @peter_rubin, sound on.#PI_Daily https://t.co/Rprxxhbsf7
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 8, 2021
#PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche update: Integration of the spacecraft is going well. Feels GOOD!
Today in addition, Hardware Review and Certification Record for the Flight Model Power Distribution Assembly (FM PDA HRCR). (not pictured) pic.twitter.com/geEIADSc5V
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 2, 2021
Launch vehicle Critical Design Review for @MissionToPsyche and @SpaceX all day today and most of yesterday. Pad 39A, here we come! #encapsulation #groundTrack #MechanicalInterface #AcousticsShockVibe #SeparationAnalysis#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/F2xlE7Ff2H
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 1, 2021
Is Psyche all metal? Mostly metal? Is it part of a core?
The thing is, we don't know. It's a journey of discovery! No mission has been near Psyche, and we don't know what it looks like.
A thread on what we know and what we hypothesize…(1/13) #PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche pic.twitter.com/hJwTUXobAu— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 31, 2021
Just got my long-sleeve t-shirt w this logo! Good timing bc most of today was working on @MissionToPsyche imagers, checking my test and calibration data. #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/vwc21IiKYU
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 30, 2021
Well THANKS @TheAtlantic for giving me a #PI_Daily nightmare I didn't yet have: PIRATES.
Thank goodness @MissionToPsyche is not traveling by boat! https://t.co/O6j2jPZNBd
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 27, 2021
Right now, (16) Psyche is on the other side of the Sun from us. It's not too far from comet Tempel 1. #PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche pic.twitter.com/8f47G9i4Z9
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 26, 2021
Last morning this week @NASAJPL. All day is @MissionToPsyche monthly management review. Right now, payload section. Soon, a quick spin through the high bay and then jump in the car and drive back to AZ, listening to the rest of review from the road. #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/A1K1uGrtS3
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 25, 2021
The system integration and test process for @MissionToPsyche is well underway. Looking like a spacecraft! And as of yesterday, the gamma ray and neutron spectrometer are installed on the booms…stay tuned for new photos. Moving so fast! #PI_Daily https://t.co/QtGHKibhhs
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 24, 2021
Real-life #PI_Daily.
At @NASAJPL working challenges and congratulating @MissionToPsyche ATLO team for amazing progress.
Learn suddenly one of our ASU courses needs emergency instructor help…thought I would not need to teach during launch year, but apparently was wrong. pic.twitter.com/030ihbZNhF
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 23, 2021
How does (16) Psyche compare to Bennu in size? (Q during @NASAJPL von Kármán lecture last night)
Bennu at scale of other asteroids is the tiny dot in the small box. But don't confuse this with actual smallness: Bennu would be a formidable impactor!@MissionToPsyche #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/IufWpwH18w
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 20, 2021
Let’s play…debunk myths about (16) Psyche! 🧐
Myth #1: The Psyche asteroid is coming toward the Earth!
No, it isn’t🙄. It’s in a stable orbit 3 times farther from the Sun than Earth is. It is never going to threaten Earth.@MissionToPsyche #PI_DAILY pic.twitter.com/Lmbx6QLXj1
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 19, 2021
Wildfire smoke coming in to San Jose. @MissionToPsyche #PI_DAILY pic.twitter.com/nvUGNXvL8K
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 18, 2021
Off to the Bay Area to visit @Maxar today. See you again tonight, Camelback Mtn! @MissionToPsyche #PI_DAILY pic.twitter.com/faQddcsHCg
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 18, 2021
Today in @MissionToPsyche Scenarios meeting we're discussing how the spacecraft ephemeris are updated (that is, how we know where it is). This video is a nice primer on declination and right ascension, the primary parameters of the ephemeris.#PI_Dailyhttps://t.co/Kj77iyqYF8
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 17, 2021
Cool to think how Psyche might be part of an unmelted planetesimal, that is, NOT part of a core but with rock and metal still intimately mixed, like this CB chondrite.
We're designed the mission to be able to tell the difference.@MissionToPsyche #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/aqxADP0QaW
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 16, 2021
How can we systematically identify the cause of an error? A fishbone diagram, aka cause-and-effect diagram.
We're working one now on @MissionToPsyche. Great tool for, well, everything. #PI_Daily
I failed to find a satiric one to share…ahem…https://t.co/LSeusWz1Om
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 13, 2021
Writing #PI_Daily today from @NASAJPL, working w the @MissionToPsyche team, seeing our growing spacecraft! Usual challenges, keeping our brains active & alive.
Inspired by Edna Mode:Confront the problem. Fight! Win! And call me when you get back, darling. I enjoy our visits. pic.twitter.com/WkVyaThLwN
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 10, 2021
Super new paper out today from de Kleer, Cambioni, and Shepard. Temp, emissivity, polarized emission data agree that Psyche is likely a metal/silicate mixture, but what kinds? What origin? @MissionToPsyche will answer big questions we can't answer from Earth.#PI_Daily https://t.co/gHyS6DeHeh
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 6, 2021
Big activity of @MissionToPsyche this week! Beautiful GRNS is ready to be integrated into the spacecraft. #PI_DAILY https://t.co/8YRniILvu2
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 5, 2021
What do you call the bracket that holds and orients your SPT Hall-effect thrusters?
DSM. It stands for DAPM-Actuated SPT Module. And DAPM stands for Dual-Positioning Mechanism. And SPT stands for Stationary Plasma Thruster. Simple.#PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche pic.twitter.com/KCujx07p55
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 4, 2021
Go Lucy!!#PI_Daily https://t.co/xh9Bseh8BR
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 4, 2021
It's @MissionToPsyche Super Tuesday! Lots of high-level reports, and also decisions. Ex:
– Shall we fund from reserves some additional hardware review
– Should we decide now to make our fall all-team meeting 100% virtual
– And about 30 others…#LaunchMinusOneYr#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/fzxTqDFaLX— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 3, 2021
New #PI_Daily participant! Chris Ruf, PI of CYGNSS, improving hurricane strength predictions, and more! https://t.co/weybSr7wQI https://t.co/ro12NL17sQ
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 3, 2021
Go @LucyMission!
This will be us, @MissionToPsyche, in April: Loading for transport to the Cape! Show us the way, Lucy!#PI_Daily https://t.co/vAVaJcsqc6— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 2, 2021
Hi @C_S_Ruf, welcome to Twitter. Two ideas: 1) as a PI of a @NASAEarth mission, pls join the #PI_Daily series and communicate what you do. @ltelkins, @AlanStern and @RPappalardo are great at this! 2) suggest tweeting a series of your to 10 discoveries/impacts by #CYGNSS – one/day
— Thomas Zurbuchen (@Dr_ThomasZ) August 2, 2021
My friends, our @MissionToPsyche launch period opens on August 1, 2022, one year from today! Here are thoughts from some of the team.#PI_Daily https://t.co/rxSinXHgdS
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 1, 2021
Question for the ages: How deeply, in how much detail, do you need to verify what someone else tells you abt their work? 2 questions? 10? A panel of questioners? Watching them do it? Redoing it yourself?
A meditative local pond for your reflection. pic.twitter.com/cHQirIq9so
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 30, 2021
On this day in 1958, NASA was created. Thank you for existing, @NASA!
Here's a cake we got for the great @MissionToPsyche team at @JHUAPL to celebrate a big milestone completed. Celebrating is so important. Eat together, get to know each other.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/15ilcQOpwa
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 29, 2021
Truth: We're getting to the point in ATLO where @MissionToPsyche schedules can be outrageous. So many meetings I would like to listen to! Today is an example. Pacific time meetings translated to me on the East Coast right now. Six hours in, going pretty well, actually! #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/lTi6f5HobI
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 27, 2021
Today and tomorrow is the pre-ship review for the now-completed @JHUAPL Gamma Ray and Neutron Spectrometer! Two days to make sure it's all in order and ready to go, and then it'll be shipped to @NASAJPL for integration onto the @MissionToPsyche spacecraft.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/ram4vZBlaj
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 26, 2021
Big news! @EuropaClipper has a ride to space! Both Clipper and @MissionToPsyche will go on Falcon Heavies. Good job, @SpaceX! #PI_Daily https://t.co/bzdiUQ24Lp
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 23, 2021
The @NASAInSight mission overcame so many challenges to become an active geophysical station on Mars.
Key: The 1830 km-radius of its core means all of the mantle has the mineralogy of Earth's upper mantle, none of our higher P lower-mantle minerals.#inspiring #PI_Daily https://t.co/96eDqDH5em
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 23, 2021
.@MissionToPsyche ATLO tidbit: Need to confirm panels remain flat after installing them. DSOC panel flatness metrology, complete.
Determined to keep up hikes and birdwatching for stress relief. This morning, a lovely bog. Scarlet tanager and sundews.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/zMxZ25xad0
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 20, 2021
As a kind of meditation and pleasure in between all the stresses and demands and pleasures of @MissionToPsyche I am learning to identify mosses. Some photos. They are magic. Such tiny leaves! Dissecting scope pics on next tweet.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/NCYT9p8Abg
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 16, 2021
Ten years ago Ben Weiss, @maria_zuber, and I wrote a paper about core formation in earliest planetesimals. Then we started planning a mission: @MissionToPsyche. Now we're building and preparing to launch in…13 months!#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/vYFAr0vmIT
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 15, 2021
The beautiful @MissionToPsyche GRNS is the topic in @Dr_ThomasZ's interview with Katie Marcotte at @JHUAPL. This instrument will tell us the elemental composition of Psyche's surface, thanks to interactions with cosmic rays.#PI_Daily https://t.co/REP5Hu1KH5
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 14, 2021
Walked up the hill this morning. First day with any sun in 16 days!
Next: A @MissionToPsyche all-team meeting, at which we celebrated the completed calibration of the @JHUAPL Gamma Ray and Neutron Spectrometer instrument. Now it'll ship to @NASAJPL for integration!#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/XlQNlHnjrl
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 14, 2021
Sooo much @MissionToPsyche today!
One tiny bit…putting hardware thru vibe (launch vibration simulation) brings up topic of "staking" bolts so they do not move. A dot of epoxy can hold the head of the bolt, or epoxy can go in the threads.#PI_Dailyhttps://t.co/GMtoUUXJBO pic.twitter.com/VvuDlbwXV5
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 13, 2021
Women in aerospace: Four "generations" of mentoring meet on Zoom.
Bonnie Theberge (@MissionToPsyche Avionics PDM), Lauren Chu (Psyche ATLO mechanical team), Mandira Misra (co-op intern on Mars rovers and @EuropaClipper), and me!#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/0oT3T8qzK3
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 12, 2021
Morning: Everyday hardware challenges in ATLO & instrument builds. Moving forward.
Afternoon: Mtg for @the_muad_dibb's PhD thesis! Psyche spectra & how @MissionToPsyche imager will ID compositions. Watch👀 for XLNT papers!
Below: CB chondrite, possible Psyche analog pic.twitter.com/mslDOywB49
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 8, 2021
What will we find when these beautiful magnetometers orbit Psyche? I can't wait to find out.@MissionToPsyche #PI_Daily https://t.co/lkOUum2B1Q
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 30, 2021
If you are a student at an American college and you are an artist of any kind and inspired to space exploration, I hope you'll consider applying to our art interns program! @MissionToPsyche #PI_Daily https://t.co/bTAUPXzH1u
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 25, 2021
This week & next I'm on a writing vacation, up in the hills of MA on my own. The break is so welcome & luxurious but it's challenging to check out of the hour-by-hour information-and-decision firehose that is @MissionToPsyche right now.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/TELPLnuR6L
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 23, 2021
New study further supports ferrovolcanism idea — that Psyche was a metal core and erupted some of its liquid metal onto its surface.
We won't know til we get there, and we're sure to be surprised!#PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche https://t.co/sWfIalmr9X
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 18, 2021
How great – #PI_Daily from AERO-VISTA, learning about the auroras from space! https://t.co/qJNEECaWEd https://t.co/uuPVCb5Mag
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 17, 2021
Here's a pano of the high bay @NASAJPL with @MissionToPsyche being built! (Pic from Tuesday of this week.)
Tomorrow: Photos of DSOC being unwrapped and the prep for installation beginning.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/gVdkoFNqyh
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 17, 2021
Our Step 2 proposal cover art is now available on our @MissionToPsyche website, thanks to the polite request of @astrogianca! This is art by the fantastic @peter_rubin, showing the aftermath of an impact among planetesimals.#PI_Dailyhttps://t.co/JfIDAfoq5I
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 16, 2021
Off to Boston from LA after a great visit with the @MissionToPsyche team at @NASAJPL. We have some nice images on our website, and more to come! #PI_Dailyhttps://t.co/kMvoeyYhEQ
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 16, 2021
Back at @NASAJPL visiting the @MissionToPsyche team and spacecraft! Today the Deep Space Optical Comm delivery to the high bay began (not in photo, maybe soon). Some well-deserved high spirits around this milestone! pic.twitter.com/gF3BfECT9S
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 15, 2021
Keeping up with progress on @MissionToPsyche instrument builds over the weekend via email. Some good updates.
Tomorrow at @NASAJPL having a couple of face-to-face meetings and looking at hardware. Should have some new pics soon!
For comparison, in May: pic.twitter.com/mFMQ1TF14S
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 14, 2021
Geeking out on these closeup photos of the "Psyche in Orbit" ceramic platter made by @MissionToPsyche Inspired art intern John Domenico.
The glaze was made of IRON and THERMITE. Yes you read that right.https://t.co/PZQqgmHrzJ#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/g6c4XGA037
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 10, 2021
In the lifetime of @MissionToPsyche, we are in the "schedules" era.
We have a detailed schedule for the year leading to launch, but depends upon instruments & subsystems being delivered on time…proj mgt ninja-level flexibility required!
That is today's main work.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/ACaazbMP12
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 10, 2021
Iron meteorites machined into spheres show octahedral structure of kamacite and taenite minerals, making the Widmanstätten pattern.
Psyche won't look like this but these metals likely make up a significant fraction of the asteroid.
At @SESEASU.#PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche pic.twitter.com/VM0I1DHZn2
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 9, 2021
It's @MissionToPsyche Super Tuesday! Psyche meetings straight through.
Lots of delving into hardware issues and schedules and budgets, as ever.
No interesting narratives for #PI_Daily, and no new photos or images, so here are awkward teenage quail from outside the window. pic.twitter.com/VErwOHXqwv
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 8, 2021
Want to know where 16 Psyche is today, right this moment?
Visit @NASAJPL's fantastic #EyesOnTheSolarSystem, and search on 16 Psyche and there it is!#PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche https://t.co/eFHhQHZ50v pic.twitter.com/FpdEwCe4lF
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 7, 2021
A new genre for @MissionToPsyche art!#PI_Daily https://t.co/TNtADiU2oU
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 6, 2021
Even big asteroids are small worlds. Here's Psyche compared to some states and countries.
Today in @MissionToPsyche #PI_Daily checking in on hardware build progress, and wishing everyone a good weekend. pic.twitter.com/jjXARYk1NX
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 4, 2021
#PI_Daily for @MissionToPsyche:
– ATLO morning update 8:00 every day
– Talk on mission to @NASAGoddard – thanks!! (Slide from talk attached here)
– Early prep for fall all-team meeting
– discuss asteroid research w @JohnMChristoph
Hope all your days are going well! pic.twitter.com/pjIWC3ZmQ5— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 3, 2021
Today we may hear selections for the #NasaDiscovery program's next missions. @MissionToPsyche is "Disco 14" — I'm nervous, remembering! I got the call in the morning and press event was about 6 hrs later.
Thinking of all the teams out there! #PI_Dailyhttps://t.co/n44i9g5Kon
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 2, 2021
Thinking about metal core formation in planetesimals. Calculated hottest profile in a range of small planetesimals. Contours show silicate melting. Smallest body likely to form a metal core has radius of 7 km. (Hevey and Sanders 2006 showed this).#PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche pic.twitter.com/cjIWQBhp2U
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 31, 2021
Real, unromantic #PI_Daily
🚀 Call w NASA HQ to discuss some plans for cruise operations
🚀 Work w @Jim_Bell & @MissionToPsyche proj scientist for being editors for pre-launch paper collection
🚀 Work on one of said papersCompensating w another testbed photo! pic.twitter.com/kiULpqD294
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 28, 2021
Safe-to-Mate Procedure (I know, I know, har har)
The meticulousness needed to create flight hardware: You have to check everything before you plug it in.Doing research, I found this NASA Lessons Learned site. Fascinating.#PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche https://t.co/3aLHYRFiWY
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 27, 2021
GIANT @MissionToPsyche Super Tuesday!
3 hrs GRNS monthly review
David (lead sys eng) 1:1
Imager hour
Carol (proj sci) 1:1
NASA HQ wkly tag-up
JPL Psyche staff
JPL 4x (divisional leadership)Fun day, plus brief lunch break.
Sci instrument deliveries are nail-biters.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/vMdyaxrqno— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 25, 2021
Now watching @MissionToPsyche spacecraft get assembled via the livestreaming camera in the high bay ceiling, thx to VPN, passcodes, hard tokens, PINs. Sorry this is not available outside JPL…but we'll have time-lapses made!
Me in the viewing gallery two weeks ago.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/cPfrDTwQaf— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 24, 2021
Weekend writing achievement: Complete ms on how we'll use the @MissionToPsyche instruments to determine how Psyche was formed. 39 pp writing, 11 pp references, 17 co-authors, 7 mths of work. I always really feel the effort of bringing a paper into a decent shape. Phew!#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/8JEEA3g2gP
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 23, 2021
Hero shot of @MissionToPsyche, last week. See why we need ladders!
The white dolly holds up the near-cubical spacecraft via an adapter ring from the left in this view.
Diameter of the high-gain antennae, seen in profile on right, is a little longer than I am tall.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/YQIBM6VOGk
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 20, 2021
I am concerned that JPL does not have enough ladders to properly build @MissionToPsyche.
Will be back on lab in ~10 days to check again!#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/jCIALNq3lz
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 19, 2021
Here's part of @MissionToPsyche testbeds. Instrument engineering models are hooked up to power system EMs & software, to make sure everyone talks and plays nicely. Great job for natural experimenters and trouble-shooters!
Photo from last week at @NASAJPL.#PI_DAILY pic.twitter.com/7SAF2BW3KT— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 18, 2021
Visiting @JHUAPL today to cheer for the GRNS team and see @MissionToPsyche flight hardware! (No photos alas)
Way to social distance, APL, planetary-style…#PI_DAILY pic.twitter.com/CJTtVE7kZE
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 17, 2021
Flying off to Visit the @MissionToPsyche team at @JHUAPL! Looking forward to seeing the flight hardware for our gamma ray and neutron spectrometer!
All muffled up for the flight to the east coast. pic.twitter.com/IBmFizDn3x
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 16, 2021
We don't think Psyche was likely to have iron-nickel metal volcanism, but we think planetesimal cores in general may have erupted FeS (liquid troilite, with Ni mixed in).
Back in 2017 Caralie Cedarleaf made this "speculative iron landscape."#PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche pic.twitter.com/rnlSJ58adG
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 13, 2021
All suited up to visit the @MissionToPsyche spacecraft at JPL yesterday!
Grounded myself (body/clothing can hold 2 – 3 kV, ~500x more than Psyche s/c can be exposed to), stood in "air shower" & danced w arms up to remove any dust etc…
Will share photos of s/c later!#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/ZMDKdXgIG1— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 12, 2021
Off to Pasadena to visit the @MissionToPsyche spacecraft team!#PI_DAILY pic.twitter.com/Rvkpz28lWa
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 10, 2021
Our @MissionToPsyche Inspired art interns have spent all year creating fresh, original art inspired by space exploration.
Come join us and see it all in a virtual gallery!
Free to all, of course. #PI_DailyRegister here: https://t.co/Bg1RuNnrrf
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 5, 2021
Here's some more evidence that space exploration is for everyone, for every discipline. Feel the connection! #PI_Daily https://t.co/KjtiP6YNM0
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 5, 2021
One of the beauties of #PI_Daily: @AlanStern and I have a phone chat about team activities and processes. Thanks, Alan, for being a great colleague and friend!#AllAboutPeople@MissionToPsyche had good hardware progress today & @NewHorizons2015 is planning her future. pic.twitter.com/easL0cm9qm
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 4, 2021
The truth of my #PI_Daily today: Swamped! Whoa, Monday!
– Brainstorming & supporting parts of @MissionToPsyche team facing (the usual) ATLO challenges
– Planning the recommence of travel to JPL and APL
– Team meetings for @II_ASU planning our week and our year#SwampedButHappy pic.twitter.com/q7ciDjKrLE— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 3, 2021
How many days in Psyche's year? Just for fun
Orbit is 1,823.115 Earth days
Psyche rotates (a Psyche day) in 4.1959 hrs
So 10,427.86 Psyche days in a Psyche yearBc spin axis lies in orbital plane, each pole in sunlight for thousands of days in a row.#PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche pic.twitter.com/gXkTaUB7Du
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 30, 2021
A meditation on the Assembly, Test, and Launch Ops part of a mission.
We're in the middle of adrenaline-boosting ATLO with @MissionToPsyche. We're doing well, but every day brings new challenges, and so I've been thinking…#PI_Daily /n pic.twitter.com/wsXASYxlFJ
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 28, 2021
Part of the great @MissionToPsyche ATLO team, and me on the right, on the floor in the high bay at @NASAJPL with our spacecraft!#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/036zSbMpKE
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 28, 2021
Beautiful presentation of our @MissionToPsyche payload! #PI_Daily https://t.co/RV2JSb5Il9
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 26, 2021
Our @MissionToPsyche spacecraft is typical in this way: we have radiating louvers to help remove excess heat from some parts, and we have heaters to help warm others. Thermal modeling is a big job. #PI_DAILY https://t.co/382uoaQKqK
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 23, 2021
Some steps in refining an estimate of any kind, for your use and tailoring:
1. WAG = wild ass guess
2. ROM = rough order of magnitude
3. “do a sniff test”
4. CBE = current best estimate
5. LRE = latest revised estimate#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/Ofs3ciuu78— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 22, 2021
Here’s how we decided to share the spacecraft build w our partner @Maxar. Ppl told us this was a big risk, but it’s turned out to be one of our strongest decisions.#PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche
A Brain, a Body and Courage — but it’s not the Wizard of Oz https://t.co/lCPVebaJ8C
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 21, 2021
Right now the @MissionToPsyche team is getting briefed on our @SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch. Whoa.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/wkPenyOHwE
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 14, 2021
.@MissionToPsyche spring all-team meeting is tomorrow and Weds (virtual).
Tomorrow: asteroid thermal modeling, imager and magnetometer build reports, student art, data archive plans, mission ops plans, neutron measurement analysis, and more.#PI_Daily
Photo: Feb. 2019 team mtg pic.twitter.com/grNugJzj77
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 12, 2021
How can we be sure to test hardware JUST ENOUGH and not overtest it? #PI_Daily
It’s the @MissionToPsyche season of vibe tables, thermovac chambers, shock tests. We rely on experience (much is empirical) & tacit (implicit, not codified) knowledge.
NASA/Chris Gunn image of JWST pic.twitter.com/lpQVCPvI4R
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 25, 2021
The usual topic diversity…#PI_Daily for @MissionToPsyche
– Rev cool new science with students #LPSC2021
– Instrument delivery schedule updates
– 1:1 w @Jim_Bell to discuss Psyche & @NASAPersevere
– Beginning prep for launch Guest Operations! OMG! @SpaceXPad39A here we come. pic.twitter.com/MHjyozJl2W— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 26, 2021
These “send your name” programs are so much fun, and help us each feel personally involved. We’re planning one for @MissionToPsyche – stay tuned on how to send your name to a metallic world!#PI_Daily https://t.co/69TykgpMyH
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 25, 2021
Today is @MissionToPsyche Monthly Management Review. We’re hanging in there with schedule, despite COVID.
The prelim nationwide Indian civil services competitive exam, the UPSC IAS, contains a question about Psyche! My Google alert brought this to me this morning. pic.twitter.com/DR0s6T4omZ
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 24, 2021
Today is cameras in space. @NASAPersevere‘s Mars landing video, & awaiting @Jim_Bell‘s Mastcam-Z images!
Now I’m in the mthly review for @MissionToPsyche imagers. In a few years, the first images of a metallic world!
And who is in charge of our imagers? @Jim_Bell !#PI_Daily https://t.co/JaIeFdmmDJ
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 22, 2021
T-1 for landing of @NASAPersevere!
Everyone on @MissionToPsyche wishes everyone on the Perseverance rover our very best. We, and all the Martians (see below) be watching tomorrow!#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/UIjZJe2Hg0
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 17, 2021
ATLO for @MissionToPsyche begins in 14 days!
All instruments need to be delivered to @NASAJPL this spring. Schedule inspection and discussion daily. Goal: No slips.
Here’s some gorgeous asteroid art created for the mission by Max Couper.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/qvsd6Deomo
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 16, 2021
Just 3 meters from my study window. These Gambel’s quail and the desert cottontail are helping us get @MissionToPsyche to launch, with their overwhelming cuteness. Seriously, however, some reliable unscheduled cheer is a great thing when there’s a lot of pressure.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/vtqY51RuUO
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 12, 2021
Nice summary of the process of winning a mission from @MissionToPsyche‘s sister mission, @LucyMission.
P.S. Our concept study report was 1,053pp. Imagine being on the review board…5 of these to read!#PI_Daily https://t.co/sCNwzRiSbq
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 10, 2021
Right now in @MissionToPsyche leadership staff mtg we are discussing our beautiful DSMs.
What is a DSM?
DAPM-Actuated SPT Module.
DAPM?
Dual-Axis Positioning Mechanism.
SPT?
Stationary Plasma Thruster.Bottom line: We’re going to space!#AcronymsWithinAcronyms#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/Caq23FSzPv
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 9, 2021
“This is the 4th critical event that I’ve been involved in” in his career, says @HopeMarsMission Dan Kubitschek. @HopeMarsMission just did orbital insertion, Dan’s 4th.
“critical events…are those which, if not executed successfully…can lead to loss…of mission.”#PI_Daily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 9, 2021
Right now the UAE Hope mission @mohapuae is attempting to enter orbit around Mars. All of us on @MissionToPsyche are cheering you in! In a few years, it’ll be our turn to go into orbit around Psyche. I’m trying to imagine that moment.#PI_Dailyhttps://t.co/7jtgNkQTrM
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 9, 2021
Digging into two fascinating @MissionToPsyche s/c requirements.
1. Max eclipse time (behind Psyche) to keep batteries charged acceptably.
2. Max tip-off rates (rotation of s/c from separation from launch vehicle)Image: Falcon not Heavy but similar, tipoff far right.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/yCAxt7IvKs
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 4, 2021
Learn how we navigate our spacecraft to Psyche, from @MissionToPsyche nav team member Drew Jones!#PsycheBlogs#PI_Dailyhttps://t.co/P89OuiEORa pic.twitter.com/uyEfXtPrBW
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 3, 2021
Friends, once @MissionToPsyche is on its way, we will hold a contest to predict what Psyche will look like. Possibly any medium is allowed (drawing, Legos, baking…) and there will be many categories of winners.
QUESTION FOR YOU: What should the contest be named?#PI_Daily https://t.co/PluUAe0oy3
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 29, 2021
Day 2 @MissionToPsyche Launch Vehicle Preliminary Design Review, w @SpaceX.
Ex of complexity: We need to know how much particulate matter will coat the s/c, from all sources, while in fairing & going to pad & launching. Requirement: less than 0.5% surface obscuration.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/Mr8rAsS1si
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 28, 2021
This really is our (unofficial) @MissionToPsyche team motto:
The best news is bad news brought early.
Kind of sums up #PI_Daily. https://t.co/3RuCK7VXYA
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 28, 2021
Ten…nine…eight minutes to start of the @MissionToPsyche Key Decision Point D (KDP-D) mtg w @NASA headquarters.
We hope to get approval for our plans for Phase D, including Assembly, Test, & Launch Ops, everything here to launch in Aug 2022.
Send us good vibes!#PI_Daily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 26, 2021
What a week for @MissionToPsyche!
Tues: KDP-D meeting w @NASA HQ
Wed/Th: Launch vehicle PDR w @SpaceX
Friday: Remedial acronym trainingToday: A talk about planetary formation for me with this wonderful teachers’ organization @AcademyforTeach in NYC.https://t.co/cIo0FVhWWJ
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 25, 2021
Our first mission smartphone app! From a @MissionToPsyche capstone team!
We encourage interdisciplinary capstone projects – this yr 50+ teams @ 10 universities. Many engineers have never worked with a graphic designer, nor designers w/ a PM.#PI_Dailyhttps://t.co/CtPKXVKtih
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 22, 2021
Surreal day.
Beautiful Inauguration.
ALL DAY, @MissionToPsyche monthly mgt review, looking at all the challenges COVID is dealing us.
AND a thrilling early morning convo beginning plans for events @ launch in 19 mths. We’d like EVERYONE to be able to connect!#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/ZOH1dlgkWk
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 20, 2021
FYI the newsletter of Cryogenic Society of America is *Cold Facts*#PI_Daily: A trade study abt cryocoolers. Top experts weighing in. Gotta keep that @MissionToPsyche gamma ray & neutron spectrometer cold, ex. when it gets hot to re-anneal the crystal.https://t.co/Geb95JZgwi
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 19, 2021
#PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche Saturday edition:
Catching up on Engineering Change Requests I missed in our Thurs mtg bc I was in another space-related mtg.
APPROVE the RAM data storage functionality, DSOC, mag cleanliness requirements updates, ABSTAIN on timekeeping changes. pic.twitter.com/MlmNKRTHpJ
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 16, 2021
Talked about @MissionToPsyche, teams, the many kinds of space-related jobs, and more, with a couple of classes of 4th- and 5th-graders recently (virtually). So fun! A million eager questions! And not just that, also inspiring drawings of our @Spacex Falcon Heavy! #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/pwM6nclx3n
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 15, 2021
True that what PIs do is org mgt, negotiation, strategy, HR.
Prepping slides for @MissionToPsyche‘s KDP-D (see yesterday’s #PI_Daily).
We’ve had no changes in science for the mission. Apparently this is rare – usually science plans move & change – which makes engineering hard. pic.twitter.com/qg7QrAg2Ra
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 14, 2021
Right now: In the last key @MissionToPsyche mtg before the key NASA HQ decisional meeting…this one is the @NASAJPL center mgt commitment mtg, where we agree on all the risks, budget, & schedule going forward.
Next stop, NASA HQ. Then, 🤞🤞🤞, on to launch! 🚀#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/bPlA6izA1n
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 13, 2021
6 hrs of key @MissionToPsyche leadership and staff and technical-schedule-risk meetings today.
COVID is making it hard. We’re fighting back.
Having a purpose and a team is everything. (Right, @Dr_ThomasZ?) Feeling blessed to be fighting. #PI_Daily
And, a rock squirrel. pic.twitter.com/Wb4uqAEeoQ
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 12, 2021
Gantt chart tyranny: Sometimes critical path won’t collapse. Part A must be built & tested before Part B can be integrated. Wanting more schedule slack, but doing OK, despite COVID.
Beauty: @MissionToPsyche Gamma-Ray Spectrometer flight unit lid & engineering unit. pic.twitter.com/Isu8Jrb7cD
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 11, 2021
Weekly launch vehicle management meeting today w @MissionToPsyche, @NASAKennedy, Janus, and @SpaceX ppl there. Getting ready for launch Preliminary Design Review! (Shocker: There’s more to launching than just trapping the s/c to a rocket, even if it is a Falcon Heavy.) #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/LoFScksKcS
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 7, 2021
In the middle of nonstop intense meetings and work on building @MissionToPsyche spacecraft (WOOP WOOP we are 55 days to ATLO!) it’s good to remember how little we know about the behavior of natural metals in space. Might small craters on Psyche’s surface look LIKE THIS? #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/8RE4hLNSMN
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 6, 2021
Today:
– Reviewing science abstracts about metallic asteroids and meteorites for the @LPSC21 conference
– Next actions to avoid hardware delays in prep for assembly of @MissionToPsyche spacecraft#PI_DailyAND…see Psyche w small telescope in Jan! https://t.co/fNcem7eyGS pic.twitter.com/Mu47PDsh2m
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 5, 2021
BAM holiday break is OVER
Feel that way to some of you?@MissionToPsyche had slowdown in meetings, not in work. The hardware has to be built, stat! #PI_DailyPress inquiry today:
Q: Why go instead of look from here?
A: Psyche is a couple of pixels in Hubble. Got to go to learn. pic.twitter.com/8U1rj9DABs— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 4, 2021
Contrary to some popular opinion, creativity is a requirement for good science. Love this reframing!#PI_Daily https://t.co/hLrA73XudG
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 1, 2021
On this last day of 2020, I’m thinking about 2021. Beginning at the start of March, @MissionToPsyche will spend most of the next two years in Assembly, Test, and Launch Operations (ATLO). We’re getting close! 19 months to launch.
(Photo courtesy @Maxar) pic.twitter.com/ovviuVXj58
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 31, 2020
Fun community project, sharing what the everyday of this job can be. From the sublime to the ridiculous. Updates from @AlanStern @RPappalardo @DrZowie @bethanyehlmann @starfleetjames and more. #PI_Daily https://t.co/sTJ2l4Yc4k
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 28, 2020
Cryocoolers. One little part of giant @MissionToPsyche, but critical!
It’s cold in space.(https://t.co/NwEeHvsCSs)
But our s/c’s heat must be radiated away (inefficient!) & some parts need to be extra cold.
Today’s #PI_Daily: Help solve challenges w tiny precious cryocooler.
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 22, 2020
#PI_Daily Day 5 (of 6!) of @EuropaClipper Critical Design Review.
Today is PAYLOAD DAY.
9 instruments! Teams striving to build despite challenges, esp. COVID.
Highlight: SUDA, to identify dust composition. Organics lofted from subsurface ocean?https://t.co/vjFhKZA64v
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 18, 2020
Solar power is only effective out to around Jupiter; not enough solar flux beyond. So largest spacecraft are those operating out nr Jupiter. Here are some of largest s/c, plus tennis court, more or less to scale.
Day 4 @EuropaClipper CDR: Payload!#PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche pic.twitter.com/raTQCMHq1g
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 17, 2020
It’s @EuropaClipper Critical Design Review Day 3: Power, avionics, RF, harness, thermal, GNC…
Solar arrays are 72 FEET LONG and have the radar HANGING ON THEM. It’s going to be amazing.#PI_Daily my review board job: Watching out for the science.https://t.co/YcM3aqlNml pic.twitter.com/IXMT5GRMmu
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 16, 2020
Day 2 of @EuropaClipper Critical Design Review!
Icy Europa orbits in Jupiter’s radiation belt, and @NASAJPL lab experiments say it probably glows in the dark! (Artists’ interpretation. NASA/JPL-Caltech)
Supporting other missions, part of job as #PI_Daily of @MissionToPsyche. pic.twitter.com/4stMi2XcTN
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 15, 2020
Pro tip:
Planetary launches to Jupiter can occur every 13 months.
For Mars, every 26 months.That is, these are the launches with minimum launch energy required and most efficient trajectories.
Image of Jupiter from @NASAJuno.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/umbimO6LKY
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 14, 2020
Aaand…we’re off!
Day 1 of 6 days of @EuropaClipper Critical Design Review.
Sitting on the board for another mission helps me do better as #PI_Daily for @MissionToPsyche, and I hope I bring scientific knowledge and support to Clipper in return. https://t.co/MctK6GcgD8
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 14, 2020
Part of my job is all major @MissionToPsyche reviews. Just finished Systems Integration Review. Board report later today.
Now, straight to @EuropaClipper Critical Design Review mtgs rest of the day!
Everyone has COVID challenges.
Sunshine is a welcome addition! pic.twitter.com/DcmMvj9cZr
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 10, 2020
What do you paint your deep-space instruments with to prevent stray reflected light?
Well, Acktar Fractal Black, of course!
(I love that this kind of thing exists.)https://t.co/o8qnWczS04
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 9, 2020
Prepping for Day 2 of @MissionToPsyche Systems Integration Review includes bringing in enough firewood to stay warm all day and more.
Payload all morning. Plans for testing. Imager flight hardware filter wheel here (has been posted before).
Now, Webex all day long! pic.twitter.com/Mz3sahpN1p
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 9, 2020
When we’re doing reviews in person we’re all in a giant room, having sidebar chats, meeting at the coffee and snack table.
For today’s remote review w 150 ppl, we’ve provided virtual refreshments. #PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche #triangularJPLbrownies #bittercoffee pic.twitter.com/6fHGqwI3v1
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 8, 2020
AND…we’re off!
SIR (Systems Integration Review) for @MissionToPsyche Day 1/3.
Purpose: determine if we are ready for ATLO (Assembly, Test, and Launch Operations), scheduled to start in Feb.
The scope of the review is attached.
Hey, post if you saw Psyche!🔭🔭 pic.twitter.com/LuOcJL899B
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 8, 2020
#PI_Daily Might get to see our asteroid tonight! https://t.co/dXSKvcI28B
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 7, 2020
In the spirit of actually sharing the day, today’s mainly non-@MissionToPsyche: @II_ASU, future of education, lab group, teaching.
Also, Change Control Board, sched strategy, prep for SIR (Tues!).
Idea: Invent a holiday and then take it. https://t.co/LfQsv8j0vl
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 3, 2020
Emails & msgs pinging back & forth to @NASA HQ, @NASAJPL, @Maxar, and many ppl working from home, biz as usual for @MissionToPsyche.
Inspired by @AlanStern‘s “Non-space jobs I’ve had that made me a better space scientist” I’ll add my top: Management consultant. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/13URAFQZtz
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 2, 2020
It’s @MissionToPsyche Super Tuesday! Back-to-back meetings create a fresh update of all latest efforts.
Winner for the least compelling meeting name today — though the contents were both interesting and important — “Psyche ECR for GRNS ITF Header pre-CCB discussion”
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) December 1, 2020
1.5 hrs convo over @MissionToPsyche project risk list (consequence, likelihood, mitigation). Great work. Love when sometimes C x L numbers go down!
Also 2.5 hrs prepping for next week’s SIR, key review.
And wkly check-in w gamma ray & neutron spectrometer progress. pic.twitter.com/pDcfcFwAvN
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) November 30, 2020
#PI_Daily dilemma.
What to do w the many requests for mentoring, talks, reviews, letters, collaborations? And esp. the ones for employment, or to fly their instrument?
LOVELY that @MissionToPsyche attracts this. Awful I can’t fulfill them all.
So instead, some silent snow. pic.twitter.com/0Nce3ZUHhb
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) November 25, 2020
Working on a new paper for our pre-launch mission collection.
And some outreach! Know anyone who wants to learn about the process and lifetime of a NASA mission? Here are @MissionToPsyche‘s free online courses:https://t.co/iKOlA0mGNx
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) November 25, 2020
Whew, a moment btwn 9.5 hrs of Zoom/Webex today, not unusual.
Q: How large a body could Psyche be a part from? Increasing evidence (meteorite measurements mainly) that early solar system, even at time of Moon-forming impact on Earth, had multiple bodies >500km. pic.twitter.com/IV6uMv9mva
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) November 23, 2020
Thrill for us all! #PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche https://t.co/xGE1dSdvl5
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) November 19, 2020
105 days to the start of @MissionToPsyche ATLO (Assembly, Test, Launch Operations)! Marching toward Pad 39A.
Today: ATLO Readiness Review.
Do we have hardware flow, tests, processes & scheduling complete? Do we have facilities & personnel identified and committed? pic.twitter.com/LotrvFzmWj
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) November 18, 2020
Telecomm flight equipment fit check, especially the waveguides around the diplexer isolator. That is all.@MissionToPsyche
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) November 17, 2020
– Great discussion on @MissionToPsyche‘s readiness to proceed to Phase D
– Working over all the late parts and their effect on schedule
– Working over budgets
– Confirming we still have a solid path to launch, despite COVID, despite everything this year
– Three cheers pic.twitter.com/lu3oR3LDBr— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) November 16, 2020
On this Blursday in March, adding some energizing, meaningful (& virtual) outreach for @MissionToPsyche.
I visited 4th- & 5th-grades @atriumschool this week, & @PrettymanTom talked w Albuquerque Cosmic Carnival and Howard Univ. So fun, lovely to connect w enthusiasts! pic.twitter.com/owJedELW06
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) November 13, 2020
We are sending our respect and gratitude for our veterans, and we are also working.
Today in @MissionToPsyche Risk Board we review effects of SCLK drift on comms btwn Earth and spacecraft (SCLK = Spacecraft Clock. Don’t be silly, of course we need an acronym.)
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) November 11, 2020
Today: @MissionToPsyche Fault Mgt CDR! (Note recent Mission System & this CDR come long after Project CDR, bc of their natural development schedule) We have a superstar FM team, comforting as we talk abt possible Black Swan events. https://t.co/IzqCyuJHMp
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) November 10, 2020
Other than stressing out over the election, @MissionToPsyche is having today a magnetometer Test Readiness Review w @DTUtweet. Are all the plans in place to test the magnetometers and be sure they’ll work properly in flight? Here are some of the tests they’ll go thru: pic.twitter.com/DnrreU5JeU
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) November 5, 2020
Hello world. Morning @MissionToPsyche all-team mtg, good progress update.
Fun fact: We need to practice bringing our giant spacecraft-size shipping container into @NASAJPL, to high bay, back out, make sure everything fits. Then, in 2022, ship to FL!
Example, not us: pic.twitter.com/gw7aM41y2P
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) November 4, 2020
6 mgt mtgs today. Today as usual @MissionToPsyche team working to our goal. Can’t be distracted bc we have planetary launch: reaching Psyche means launching in narrow window when planets are in right places in orbits. Every day btwn now & then is planned.
Stay strong! pic.twitter.com/a8q0JXzEwq
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) November 3, 2020
Update: Pass! And many kind words for hard-working @MissionToPsyche Mission Systems team.
(One Halloween-scale fright when board member dissented, recommended conditional pass at best, bc he expected to have brownies delivered to his house – none of these virtual refreshments!) https://t.co/Feoxh72q5g
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 29, 2020
Day 3 of @MissionToPsyche Mission System CDR is complete! Now the board has gone to have lunch and caucus, and we’ll re-convene at 2:30 to hear their report. We hope we have passed all the Success Criteria!
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 29, 2020
Hi all!
Today: Day 1 of 3 of @MissionToPsyche Mission System Critical Design Review. Our brill MS Manager is giving transparent overview: Where we are doing well, where we have challenges, & effects of COVID.
Here’s generic MS chart from CalTech. See below for more. #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/PaqEfsqG1f
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 27, 2020
Today @NASAJPL‘s @gretchenaparker talks to our lab group and student collaborators about her job taking what JPL does in planetary science and making it known and accessible to the public. That’s really all of our jobs.https://t.co/CVl5Y0LZP2
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 22, 2020
It’s Monthly Management Review for @MissionToPsyche! 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Good news: No new major problems. Path forward remains clear, and though it’s difficult, we will prevail! Ppl are working so hard. All kinds of flight hardware is being built and tested.
Next: pic.twitter.com/pE7sHoS6gw
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 21, 2020
Talked abt @MissionToPsyche at @NASA Live Asteroid Science & Planetary Defense Media Telecon; answered questions for the press at the end.
w @LucyMission, @OSIRISREx, and DART missions, much (but not all) of the NASA small worlds collection!https://t.co/Gs9c7i2OIs
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 19, 2020
Working on instrument scheds to get to @MissionToPsyche ATLO (Assembly, Test, and Launch Ops) on time. Good progress.
And finding ppl to take my courses & admin work fall ’21-spr ’22, so I can get to ATLO, too!
Happy Friday hope you’ve all had some peace in your day. pic.twitter.com/WpVfHL2k0D
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 16, 2020
– @MissionToPsyche team mtg; @Jim_Bell talked abt Space Sci Rev volume we’re writing
– Talk for Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium mtg
– 1:1 a Henry Stone, Psyche’s PM
– Tonight 6:30 PDT Zócalo’s Can Space Exploration Save Humanity? join us https://t.co/SW9IvnO4kY— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 14, 2020
If it’s Tuesday, it’s @MissionToPsyche‘s leadership staff meeting, too, plus tag-up with program managers at Marshall and NASA HQ, and another mtg w JPL leadershhip. It’s going to be a good day!#PI_Daily https://t.co/kVCt5YL4Xa
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 13, 2020
Today’s thinks:
So interesting, how to best support a team to reach schedule & budget goals.
I used to think that once a problem was ID’d we cd all just, well, fix it.
But ppl are complex, & networks of ppl are super complex!
Needs patience and belief in the best. pic.twitter.com/wE043L4eU0
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 12, 2020
Here’s the Day 2 agenda for our @MissionToPsyche team meeting. We have 12 early career observers, and an active chat with questions and answers flying by. Feels a bit like TEDSpace. pic.twitter.com/A5uOgML8JM
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 7, 2020
Phrase of the day: Hamming distance.
In the context of sending and receiving messages to spacecraft, the number of bit differences between a received code presumably containing errors, and any given possible error-free code that was intended. #PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche pic.twitter.com/Wo6LgGjUL1
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 7, 2020
#PI_Daily@MissionToPsyche twice-a-year all-team meeting today and tomorrow. Wish we were in person @MIT as planned.
We are all a little verklempt, seeing photos of the spacecraft chassis being built @Maxar. (Photos being cleared for release…stay tuned!)
Today’s agenda: pic.twitter.com/WVt1rWlguc
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 6, 2020
Ready for @MissionToPsyche team mtgs tomorrow & Wednesday!
Today, met with half our early career observers for the meeting! Psyche briefing and Q&A w/ team mentors. Opportunity for ppl to see something abt how missions run.
Our early career observers are….(next) pic.twitter.com/bw8U0yTgBj
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 5, 2020
Day 3 of 4 @EuropaClipper Mission Sys CDR. Doing a great job with presentations
Interesting future challenge of near-real-time changes in ops at Europa, or @MissionToPsyche at Psyche:
Great sci discovery on 1 instrument
Which other’s obs time to cut?Ex. BepiColombo pic.twitter.com/4R6B1JjN6n
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) October 1, 2020
Today (& tomorrow & Thurs) I am on Standing Review Board for @EuropaClipper mission’s Mission System Critical Design Review.
Reviewing navigation, launch, cruise, approach, orbital ops, staff training, data handling, and so much more.
This mission is going to ROCK. pic.twitter.com/MJXk7TV4H4
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 29, 2020
Let’s play, “Guess abt something we can’t see that happened 4.5 billion years ago!”
My latest hypotheses abt formation of asteroid (16) Psyche. Prep for @MissionToPsyche.
We think it has…
1. rock high in Mg, v low in Fe
2. metal
3. density 3700-4200 kg m-3OK Go!#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/esRlKOQ7Ut
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 28, 2020
Today is university space stuff: Our #IIASU Quarterly Meeting at 11:00am PST. All invited, register at: https://t.co/a79HvO8a4p
Then, welcoming all this year’s ~250 @MissionToPsyche students!
It’s a good Friday, useful and hopeful. pic.twitter.com/3mYL7YhoEE
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 25, 2020
New artists working with @MissionToPsyche! WELCOME to this year’s Psyche Inspired student art interns. #PI_Daily https://t.co/5tc3lWURZ3
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 23, 2020
Tuesdays…
Working on @MissionToPsyche schedule all day.8:00 All-team mtg ~130 ppl
12:15 Plan team mtg w proj sci
1:00 Marshall SFC tag-up
2:00 Project Staff
3:00 Technical-Schedule-Cost (“tsk”) mtg
4:30 JPL 4X tag-upMay we all be as fierce as hummingbirds! pic.twitter.com/vzjLsKF2Iv
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 22, 2020
Typical mix of things…gotta love the personnel and org. management, team-building, comms, along with the science and engineering.
– Working on catching up some late schedule on a subsystem
– Prepping for all-team morning meeting tomorrow
– Discussing press releases— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 21, 2020
Thought you might like to see a hypervelocity impact into a piece of iron meteorite. Experiment using Ames Vertical Gun by Simone Marchi. My thumb for scale.
Also presented @MissionToPsyche to the CAPS, the keepers of the planetary decadal survey, today. pic.twitter.com/3U86HTYwSl
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 16, 2020
It’s Psyche super Tuesday! Lots of mtgs & updates, nothing too interesting to report upon.
BUT
Check out @MissionToPsyche student collaborations numbers! Each horizontal line is one individual student. Over 800 students at 37 different universities so far! pic.twitter.com/8WsxU665Rz
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 15, 2020
1. Working the schedule, working the schedule, working the schedule. (Launch in Aug. 2020 is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.)
2. Prep to present @MissionToPsyche to the CAPS committee, the keepers of the Planetary Decadal Survey, Weds. morning!https://t.co/MxnFgSWNSv
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 14, 2020
One day blurs into the next while working under COVID. When you’re working very hard, that also seems permanent and without a break.
This is @MissionToPsyche‘s quiet week. Almost all mtgs canceled. Some quiet brain time, or even, for me, a couple days of vacation!
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 8, 2020
Prepping for early career visitors to @MissionToPsyche fall All-Team Mtg! To apply to us, @EuropaClipper, or @NASADragonfly, see #3 in this @AAS_DPS newsletter: https://t.co/rBeUEyx2zN.
Also LOTS of teaching today. Quail tableaux for spice. pic.twitter.com/FxaoQlwBKT
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 3, 2020
So right, @DrZowie! And I’d add, it’s a long-term commitment. You’re making a promise (and your employer is making a promise) that you will be working primarily on the flight project for a long, long time. Biggest gift, biggest challenge. #PI_Daily @MissionToPsyche https://t.co/rjwJlUrsBg
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 2, 2020
Today was @MissionToPsyche‘s project risk board. Checked status of all top risks. Some have lessened! New ones have emerged. COVID impact is #1. Hardware schedule slips. We’re in that part of the mission!
Here’s @tweetsoutloud‘s great take on the risk matrix. https://t.co/vNcFPeJzw5
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 2, 2020
Today is our @MissionToPsyche Launch Sequence Review! Seriously exciting. And amazing we need to do this two years ahead-well, 1 year 11 months now!
Just 44 minutes from liftoff to separation… pic.twitter.com/ucFrLCDL15
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) September 1, 2020
Today was an unusual day! Set up a home studio & filmed @PoetryInAmerica w Elisa New. Deeply enjoyed discussing Ammons’ poem Cascadilla Creek – involves conflict btwn the inaccessible scales of universe and our human efforts. Brought in a bit of @MissionToPsyche. pic.twitter.com/GpElK1egqz
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 28, 2020
Special treat for me today…Women of @MissionToPsyche panel discussion at @NASAJPL (we’re just reps…lots more ppl of all descriptions on the team!).
Huge lift to my spirits, seeing and talking with these teammates. 130 ppl online for the webinar right now. pic.twitter.com/gi3V3jnsXw
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 27, 2020
This morning in @MissionToPsyche review w @SpaceX we talked a lot about shock and vibe – critical not to exceed instrument tolerances, and requires detailed finite element modeling. Now, limits on radiated emissions from launch vehicle and s/c. #PI_Daily https://t.co/yMATNTE4w3
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 26, 2020
Seemingly unrelated jobs today…
– Launch MSRR. Ever think abt how launch vehicle releases s/c w no angular momentum in any axis?
– Organizing papers about mission for pre-launch
– Awaiting NASA HQ’s budget deliberations (they’ve got the really hard work now) pic.twitter.com/CWfeLuWwaW— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 25, 2020
Tomorrow and next day is very exciting Mission Systems Requirements Review (MSRR) for the LAUNCH!
2 days on mech and elec interfaces, loads, acoustics, shock, cleanliness, ground ops, and more, w @SpaceX, @NASA launch sys providers, and the @MissionToPsyche team. pic.twitter.com/Gj3mlkxuDM
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 24, 2020
Oh, it’s budgets budgets budgets all the day long!
Working w @NASA, @NASAJPL, @NASA_Marshall to quantify COVID effects & make achievable spending plan. Still no final answers, but feeling good abt the work & path forward.
Imager’s green “go” filter for inspiration. pic.twitter.com/khERisRfKq
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 21, 2020
Today, our super-abbreviated Monthly Management Review. [In which we discover our productivity and budget trending in the right direction.]
And Proj. Mgt. 1:1. [In which we re-discover that we have similar mgt styles, ethics, and priorities, and feel thankful.]
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 19, 2020
What we’re working on:
How can we reduce budget to offset COVID costs?
How do we get subs to deliver a better product? On better schedule?Plus, let’s write all our pre-flight science & instrument papers!
P.S. All tests in fm yesterday: I am CLEAR of cancer 6 years! pic.twitter.com/agBwcXtj5Q
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 18, 2020
Worth sharing, I think, life goes on whilst PI-ing#PI_Daily
Not working much on @MissionToPsyche, bc all day at Mayo having MRI & other scans (IV, ugh), blood tests, dr. chats, to confirm ovarian cancer is not back. So far looks good!
LIVE YOUR LIFEhttps://t.co/DnhJXJsAlh
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 17, 2020
1st time I appreciated Earned Value Mgt. Lets us calc exactly how much @MissionToPsyche team productivity dropped bc of COVID, thus cost of catch up.
Still working beautifully to 2022 launch. Keep fingers crossed, friends, this is not easy!
Pic – last night’s tstorms pic.twitter.com/EY4BYol6pN
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 13, 2020
Today’s forecast 100% Psyche 🛰️ w a 80% chance of emergencies 👩🔧 and also email replies from me 📨.
All 10 mtgs colored orange or red in my calendar. Talking across whole team, line to NASA HQ, making it work!
COVID…we’ll figure this all out!
(photo: mine) pic.twitter.com/dWsVV6maY6
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 11, 2020
Published a new blog post today!
What would Mark Watney do? From @MissionToPsyche‘s system engineer Bill Hart, explaining the amazing fact that in planning a solar electric mission, in some ways, mass = power. Plus, what is margin? https://t.co/nzXkgSHHyj
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 10, 2020
Working w @Jim_Bell and our PS Carol P. on a Springer edited volume of articles on @MissionToPsyche. Will be science and instruments, published in time for launch, the “before” benchmark…can’t wait for the “during” and “after” benchmarks in our sci and eng knowledge!
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 7, 2020
A day when work is mostly concerned w other projects & preparing to teach, but Psyche is always passing thru, in the email, in scheduling mtgs and calls, and in reading pre-publication papers from other missions and commenting on them for the press!
(Wikipedia image) pic.twitter.com/Q8oX4KWb6o
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 6, 2020
Today @MissionToPsyche:
– Proj. Sys. Eng’g + Change Control Board
– Risk Board – reevaluate top risks. Some r subsiding!
– Qtly report 2 NASA HQ
– Henry (PM) & Lindy 1:1
– Work subcontractor issues.Also, saving a gopher snake trapped in chicken wire. No metaphor. pic.twitter.com/NXVzyQX5Dt
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 5, 2020
Phew, some days tougher than others! Having trouble w subcontractors delivering parts for @MissionToPsyche. & all problems = $.
But, our ppl are well. Matters much more.
Wish we could make them ourselves in our shed…I cleaned it out and am feeling pleased w it. pic.twitter.com/J80l1MxJhh
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 4, 2020
Today was Center Mgt Council meeting, where @NASAJPL confirms they agree w & support @MissionToPsyche‘s #COVID replan. All is well, team did a great job figuring out how much productivity loss (=$$) COVID has caused. We’re still on track, our schedule still closes! pic.twitter.com/VFl1RlLMOA
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) August 3, 2020
Today included a close look at cost and mass growth in @MissionToPsyche subsystems and instruments.
Continue to be amazed by challenge of accurate planning when every step hasn’t been done many times before. C’mon human brains, evolve faster!
Ad astra, ad Psyche! pic.twitter.com/1Ja4zu5lrz
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 31, 2020
#PI_Daily After a vacation-from-mtgs, @MissionToPsyche!
Today: now-regular all-team mtg, a response to COVID, with ~120 ppl this morning.
– Hardware being built! Amazing s/c bus emerging at @Maxar.
– COVID is slowing us down, but we’re making it work.
Stay well and safe, all! pic.twitter.com/wSBLNxUjR9— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 29, 2020
Sched for @MissionToPsyche waits for no person, no vacation, so I’ll be help detail COVID impacts and plan to reach launch (still looking strong).
In other news, here is the baby raccoon eating and the mother (whisker/nose/ear close-up) knocking over the camera. pic.twitter.com/pDMuGnGtZB
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 21, 2020
Having “vacation” so fewer #PI_Daily tweets, and more about the nature around us in MA right now.
Today’s mini-thrill: mushroom spore-prints! pic.twitter.com/25CfiT7fTg
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 20, 2020
Beautiful synergy btwn art & science today. Sent gorgeous @MissionToPsyche @JHUAPL Gamma Ray & Neutron Spectrometer video to team and subs working on it. Hear video motivated everyone to a higher pitch. We need these bits of joy & connection. https://t.co/eeaOIK4gcC
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 13, 2020
This week at @NASA has footage of @NASAPersevere rover in final testing and being loaded onto Atlas 5, what @MarsCuriosity is doing on Mars right now, and…CDR pass and progress of @MissionToPsyche‘s flight hardware! @NASAJPL @ASU @Maxar https://t.co/XbQI9xONSd
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 11, 2020
Moving fast on @MissionToPsyche. Hard decisions being made.
When good is good enough: Spend $ & schedule time that we cannot afford on an instrument engineering change, to mitigate a risk 7 yrs. out. Getting to launch vs. improving science in the end.
Space is hard!
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 8, 2020
#PI_Daily Yes, building spacecraft continues!
Today I reviewed Test-as-You-Fly exceptions. Best practice: test hardware exactly as it will be used in flight. Not always possible. For ex: test 24.76-m solar arrays extended in a vacuum! So, strict process for exception approvals. pic.twitter.com/L0OHAfeaO5
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 6, 2020
Hello space and nature world!#PI_Daily: Serious discussions with @MissionToPsyche subcontractors about schedule concerns.#Nature: Orange slime mold and Wood frog eggs. pic.twitter.com/w4w4XBHOTD
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) July 2, 2020
A funny day…
Many @MissionToPsyche emails abt meetings for final decisions abt this or that engineering detail (where “detail” is something we cannot move past til final decision made).
Plus a weird bit of PI-ness…checking bona fides on ppl asking unusual Qs.
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 30, 2020
Sometimes work is pretty prosaic: Working on getting all our published papers into the correct federal database.
And sometimes urgent: Being Bad Cop with a slow vendor.
And sometimes poetic: Dreaming of what Psyche might look like, so @peter_rubin can make new art.
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 25, 2020
Today is @missiontopsyche MMR (Monthly Management Review).
Two ex. issues:
– Subcontractor re-prioritizes your mission below another NASA mission, putting schedule in jeopardy, bc sub is having mfg challenges.
– Which high bay you can use determined by size of door. pic.twitter.com/RTb1CPuqNy— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 24, 2020
Working on launch trajectories.
Discussions w instrument teams abt possible effects of extreme solar events. Are they fully covered by schedule margin? What abt cosmogenic radionuclides produced by same?
And with that, for you all a cute rabbit eating mesquite. pic.twitter.com/KheinlCmLz
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 23, 2020
Quiet day for me. Monitoring health stats at @NASAPsyche partners building hardware (so far so good!). About to deploy applications for next year’s art interns (Psyche Inspired!). And thinking a lot about how to use space exploration to inspire better education.
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 22, 2020
Oh, whistle while you work, the advice goes! 🤪
Feel like we’re a hive of bees 🐝 Big effort building, rebudgeting/rescheduling, & making sure @NASAPsyche, @escapade_mars, & Janus mission spacecraft all launch together safely. Space is hard!https://t.co/jRDqI9fRhU
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 17, 2020
#PI_Daily
Technical-Schedule-Risk board, where we assess how changes requested from the team would impact schedule and cost.ex: vendor charges $200K extra bc engineering design for new die is unexpectedly needed
BUT almost all the rest of the day spent on future of education!
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 11, 2020
All-team @NASAPsyche Webex. Henry Stone, our super-fab PM, gives summary of Directorate Program Mgt Council informational review yesterday, the culmination of our yr-long Festive Critical Design Review Season.
Good to see all sectors & interns to leadership online. pic.twitter.com/6aaMWnnmfb
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 10, 2020
Today: @NASAPsyche‘s post-CDR, informational Directorate Program Management Council meeting (DPMC). For three hours we will summarize where Psyche mission is on all fronts, and our forecasts.
Expecting clear communications and good advice and support.
Onward!
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 9, 2020
Today, launch trajectory trade, risk board, systems engineering, and more, but I thought it more important to post a series of ideas about
program management, equity, inclusion, and team functioning.
A thread of ideas that might be helpful for PIs of mission teams:
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 3, 2020
A letter I wrote to the @NASAPsyche team this morning.
—-
Dear Psyche team,I am thinking about you all and hope you are coping in some way with the very difficult circumstances of our world right now. I hope that you and yours are safe.
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) June 3, 2020
There are multiple checks and independent assessments of a mission’s schedule and budget. Today we’re online listening to the report of another one…would rather be working the science and building the @NASAPsyche spacecraft! pic.twitter.com/mrFaVfETrk
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 29, 2020
A day of @NASAPsyche rest!
Great chat with @adamspacemann about the small worlds in our solar system.
Work on @II_ASU pilot projects, and Technological Leadership major, and @beaglelearning‘s partnership with @Gilmore_MoveUp and his colleagues in Mesa. 🚀🛰️📡🌑
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 22, 2020
Fourth hot-fire test for the SPT 140 thrusters for @NASAPsyche spacecraft! Going well.
(this photo from previous test, but looks much the same!) pic.twitter.com/UjPrBQfdXc
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 21, 2020
Prepping for Center Mgt Commitment mtgs @ JPL, & Directorate Program Mgt Council mtg w NASA HQ, both post-CDR activities.
Also responding to requests for performance evaluations.
Who out there has an example of a great performance eval format? Asking for a friend.
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 20, 2020
#PI_Daily
Now: Webex presentations from capstone teams who designed landers, samplers, mission designs for future asteroid exploration (~20% of total @NASAPsyche teams). Prototypes: walkers, jumpers, bouncers, tethers, Archimedes screw propulsionGreat to hear the students talk! pic.twitter.com/C8IuXuF9Qk
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 19, 2020
Post-CDR, right back to work full-speed. Prepping for JPL & NASA HQ decisional meetings in the wake of CDR, also…
– optimizing launch and trajectory
– planning pre-launch book on instruments and science plans
– continued oversight and planning for hardware builds pic.twitter.com/VnhKStWp7S— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 19, 2020
#PI_Daily @NASAPsyche festive Critical Design Review season, w its 18+ reviews, is officially over!
No official results for a few wks, until NASA HQ decisional mtg, but feeling hopeful, & thrilled w how team has faced challenges & created paths forward.
Our treat last night. pic.twitter.com/zBANBkF8kf
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 16, 2020
Day 5 of Critical Design Review: Now we wait.
Standing Review Board in caucus all morning. We’ll hear a report-out to @NASAPsyche leadership this afternoon!
(image via Google search from joyfullifemagazine) pic.twitter.com/Gq4ZMQPeDx
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 15, 2020
Day 4 of @NASAPsyche project-level CDR:
Power
Avionics and Flight Software
Testbeds
GN&C
Business managementAwesomely connected and alert review board, really helping us.
Good time for a replay of this video. Bits of design out of date, but instruments are right! pic.twitter.com/QiMN5vRkbN
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 14, 2020
View from my desk this morning (out the bedroom sliding door). #tinyrabbit is supporting @NASAPsyche Critical Design Review, Day 3. #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/4WMPVlNbsj
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 13, 2020
#PI_Daily@NASAPsyche CDR Day 2
45 min in and @nzw is giving a great state-of-the-payload as Payload Systems Engineer AND Payload Deputy.
GRNS from @JHUAPL
Magnetometer from @DTUtweet
Imagers from @ASU – @Jim_Bell PISun-blocking filters..temp sensors..survival heaters.. pic.twitter.com/1QKjoqMsI4
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 12, 2020
#PI_Daily @NASAPsyche Critical Design Review Update
Running 15 min ahead, 236 people online.
Worked through all the risks (sample matrix below) under Project Systems Engineering, led by brilliant @marstimrdad.
We’ve got no red risks at the moment, but some schedule stressors. pic.twitter.com/crSo4gqKND
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 11, 2020
Two things I can share from the first hour of CDR: My own remarks, and our mission schedule with on-brand color palette! pic.twitter.com/tc3sWO4Rlg
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 11, 2020
T minus 4 minutes to the first day of @NASAPsyche project-level Critical Design Review!
🌑🛰️📡🚀
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 11, 2020
As @AlanStern said, most every day for a PI includes work on their mission & other work.
Saturdays for me usually filled with work needing sustained concentration, not possible in weekdays. Today: revisions of a paper & SBIR proposal for @beaglelearning!
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 9, 2020
Wow double NASA week! Final prep for Psyche CDR done; start bright & early Monday. Also, wrapped up @EuropaClipperspecial team assignment (if you’re not up on this mission, check it out! BIG one!)
Signing off with our Psyche model. https://t.co/U1i55GZPeI
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 8, 2020
At the heart of being a PI is challenge of coordinating & leading across many institutions – leading thru influence, bc the ppl you are working w do not directly report to you. A vast exercise in networking & team identity.#PI_Daily @NASAPsyche
(graphic:https://t.co/kgWgrsu0Sc) pic.twitter.com/Mm3el5poA8— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 6, 2020
Good news: instrument hardware progress. Good news on plans for making up schedule, if we really are gently ramping up. 6 days to CDR.
Hard hard work ahead, but at least a path.
Good news in a hard time, like this Blackfoot Daisy in our backyard caliche. pic.twitter.com/vNhviiqDD8
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 6, 2020
Last day of combing through Critical Design Review charts! Making sure everyone who should be, is invited. Prepping introductory remarks.
And now, the final charts are done and delivered!
The board will have 6 days to read and review pic.twitter.com/KiU3q8bMi0
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 5, 2020
Struggling with how to run a mission and fulfill the wishes of the university that I be a professor and also direct the @II_ASU.
Working hard to be ready for CDR.
Lovely sunset signals I can put it all under a fermata til tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/rRk6Alao1J
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) May 1, 2020
Taking care of yrself, kids, aging relatives, neighbors, pets, is hard, while working. CDR in 13 days.
Today had ALL-TEAM Webex meeting w 138 ppl! Updates, encouragements, thx, children, pets. I feel better & hope others too.
One key team member here… pic.twitter.com/p9T8XWSugF
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 29, 2020
Last preparations of slides for Critical Design Review: due to board on Monday.
Tomorrow morning — all-team meeting! Can’t wait!
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 29, 2020
Another “readiness-to-proceed” mtg. We are Ready for Critical Design Review. If we pass, we’re clear to build more hardware, COVID allowing.
Also launch target & trajectory trade study! V exciting. An example (not ours) fm Alan Pitz on ResearchGate. pic.twitter.com/pwFmXNTeVc
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 27, 2020
CDR dry run…CDR dry run…CDR dry run…CDR dry run…teaching…CDR dry run…
Oh I wish I had a llama at one of these meetings! Space llama!https://t.co/09Sg7Pk1XQ
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 23, 2020
Today: Mainly @NASAPsyche Project Systems Engineering & Change Control Board mtgs (changes to temp, magnetometer power, launch req’ts) and Psyche Monthly Mgt Review.
Note to self: Building hardware without touching anything or being near any people is difficult.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/7TS9oeCvD0
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 22, 2020
It’s Psyche Psuper Tuesday!
9 mtgs…3 are 1:1 with leadership. End of each Tuesday, I know the latest from every part of the mission.
COVID is making a hard row to hoe, but the team remains amazing. Pic from 2019, abt 1/6 of team.
Stay safe, everyone! pic.twitter.com/TVA7bafRcQ
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 21, 2020
Preparing for Critical Design Review, with all the unknowns caused by COVID. Luckily – amazingly – we are still OK on schedule & budget.
Good news today: build and test of science instruments making good progress under safe conditions.
Hart (2018) IEEE pic.twitter.com/yeunRelaSu
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 20, 2020
1:1 w student collaborations lead – always excited abt those programs!
Email abt social media plans.
Quick turnaround on NASA HQ answers for a press inquiry.
Scheduling 2 other interviews.
Results @Maxar SEP Chassis CDR: PASS!https://t.co/mGNr9zgaLY
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 16, 2020
Day 2 @NASAPsyche Solar Electric Propulsion Chassis Critical Design Review @Maxar.
SPT Thrusters:
For total mission, expect <1,300 latch valve cycles (qualified 17,000), < 1,300 pressure regulator cycles (qual 12,000). Good robust margin. This level of detail all day.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/LNXexKpaSF— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 15, 2020
Day 1 of @NASAPsyche Solar Electric Propulsion Cassis Critical Design Review @Maxar. Btwn 80-110 virtual ppl all day.
Right now, covering design goals for component stiffness. Ex: Solar arrays first bending mode must be >so-and-so Hz.
Going well: reviewers engaged!#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/u08QhhFfyQ
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 14, 2020
Scrubbing @NASAPsyche technical, sched, & risk list.
Will areas need more resources? Are parts coming in above/below budget?
All project areas; dozens of items.
Key project philosophy Q: Do we roll into budget now, or hold for more info? #PI_Daily
(https://t.co/9ZLppAIIUR) pic.twitter.com/3oT7uUHknk
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 13, 2020
How to keep 800+ @NASAPsyche team updated in this time of change & insecurity? (We’re powering ahead! Tracking COVID impacts & working on key decision pts.)
Sol’n: wkly emails & bi-weekly all-team Webex coffee hrs, + team lead comms#PI_Daily
(credit: https://t.co/5mv9ZvYPNV) pic.twitter.com/lX4B1jCjTd
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 10, 2020
Working on how to do a graduate thesis defense entirely virtually (inc toasts of congratulations at the end!) [[@geologymaiden and sulfur in planetesimal cores!!]]
Working on which of the success criteria for @NASAPsyche CDR in May may be impossible in virtual world. pic.twitter.com/0QN2CXEulR
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 9, 2020
Q: What is *every* team doing today?
A: Trying to keep people safe, and assessing threat of COVID work stoppage to schedule, and attempting to plan ahead.…and @NASAPsyche JPL staff meeting, NASA HQ tag-up, Technical-Schedule-Cost mtg, JPL HQ tag-up. pic.twitter.com/Ry3r6g4XID
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 7, 2020
Oh that beautiful @NASAPsyche spacecraft…central cylinder and more already built by @Maxar!
Updated video model by @peter_rubin.https://t.co/lKe7zmUB6h
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 6, 2020
#PI_Daily To be ready to interpret data once we’re there, @NASAPsyche team used all current data & created broadest plausible interpretations for Psyche (lots of new data since proposal-writing!).
Thx @AGU_Eos for highlighting! Thx @peter_rubin for art!https://t.co/VL7Scp7XBP
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 6, 2020
The new normal within mission teams…6:00 AM in Phoenix, on an instrument review being held virtually, 53 people online. Reviewers on point, questions flowing already. #PI_Daily
(not today’s Moon, just emotionally evocative) pic.twitter.com/FzzMEUauq7
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 2, 2020
A mysterious mission leadership activity is hours spent in silence, listening to meetings.
Key to being an effective PI is knowing what is happening throughout mission team. Requires listening, little speaking.
All day @NASAPsyche @SpaceX kickoff for launch prep. #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/jT9ND4PtZO
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 1, 2020
#PI_Daily Feeling positive abt our plans for remote project Critical Design Review.
But mostly, an #acronymfestival(AF). From an email:
“This week is extremely full with SEAG, MWIG and other meetings that have conflicted with PSET prep…”
I hope acronyms still make you smile.
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) April 1, 2020
Monday check-ins w teams…& conversation on how to optimize the big project Critical Design Review, in May, to be held virtually.
The best news is bad news, brought early.
We need all the reviewers to find those risks and misses!#PI_Daily
(photo: copper sheet, not Psyche) pic.twitter.com/bNainveEED
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 30, 2020
How might Psyche’s magnetic field look?
Some new space physics by @OranSpaceDr and Ben Weiss. Here’s magnitude of field as measured from @NASAPsyche spacecraft in Orbit D, using simulation of Psyche rotating; blue blob shows how magnetosphere is blowing in the wind.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/dqIOJN56ui
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 26, 2020
Early start, magnetometer milestone review Day 2 (6 – 8:30 AM)
Then 5 other Psyche calls or videocons
Then Monthly Mgt Review, abridged version (1 – 5:00 PM)
Yesterday & today were marathons; Thurs & Fri look more human. Being busy, hearing people’s voices is good.#PI_Daily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 25, 2020
Woooo what a #PI_Daily.
Just finishing. Almost 12 hours today. All reviews for the day done and done well.
And we’re having a sit-up challenge, tracked in Slack: telecons need breaks. 10 extra if you check the news.
Here’s a Northern cardinal to remind us to find the joy. pic.twitter.com/zA01Ao2o4f
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 25, 2020
Hi all! #PI_Daily for @NASAPsyche
6:00 AM start for magnetometer review, and then the usual Super Tuesday. All virtual. 🖥️⌨️🖱️📡🛰️🚀
Proj Sys Eng 1:1
Proj Sci 1:1
NASA HQ tagup
Staff mtg
Technical-Schedule-Cost mtg (key for ongoing budget control)
JPL mgt mtg
Loooooong day. pic.twitter.com/OOsiCJuRdB— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 24, 2020
Monday #PI_Daily.
Keeping track of the team. Who can still work on hardware? How is virtual work going? We’re doing as well as we can, and still take care of the @NASAPsyche team. Of course, lots of people home with kids. People first.
And so, yesterday was planting the garden. pic.twitter.com/GQOWOR1sBM
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 23, 2020
#FestivalOfTelecons for #PI_Daily…
– Standing Review Board update
– Launch Vehicle Provider planning (@SpaceX!)
– @NASAPsyche leadershp tagup
– New project teams 4 @II_ASU!
– 4 1:1s
– Board chat @EuropaClipperOngoing: adjst to hourly #NewNormals
pic of backyard for😃 pic.twitter.com/ZGnu2zK2lS
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 20, 2020
Wild day of Zoom meetings, @ASU & @NASAPsyche.
Psyche avionics CDR 8-9 AM & when I can fit it in later
Faculty candidate interview
Student collabs lead 1:1
2 grad student 1:1
Lab group
SESE faculty
Teaching online!
A meeting about teaching online next fall.Big #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/CrNCSeQ3Et
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 19, 2020
#PI_Daily today:
Avionics CDR (2nd of 3 full days)
Project Systems Engineering Team (PSET, every Weds morning)
Change Control Board (CCB, every Weds. morn)
1:1 with Henry Stone, Psyche Project Manager#WebexForever #Zoomforever #VirtualCorona— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 18, 2020
Off to the races with the @NASAPsyche mission’s first entirely online review: our Avionics Critical Design Review. Starting strong and clear.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/GUZUKgM43Q
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 17, 2020
Wishing you all calm & health, also
happy (16) Psyche Discovery Day!
On this day in Naples in 1852, Annibale de Gasparis discovered our asteroid, the 5th of the 9 he discovered in his lifetime. Here he is, 45 years later (credit: Wikipedia). #PI_Daily finding the small joys pic.twitter.com/ij7cDfg2PS
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 17, 2020
Today: steep gradient into new COVID-19 world.
All parts of @NASAPsyche now work- or shelter-at-home, or a few exempt ppl at work: @ASU, @NASAJPL, @LockheedMartin, other subs.
I’m so proud of the team. We’ll do our best.
Stay safe and well, friends.#PI_Daily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 17, 2020
A number of the missions, @NASAPsyche included, are running reviews this spring. Here is a collection of suggestions for running more effective remote reviews. Many thanks to @AlanStern and @colkin for contributing ideas!#PI_Dailyhttps://t.co/WdA5wgMiqt
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 15, 2020
Yesterday was discussions abt how to run @NASAPsyche w coronavirus threats.
How many people can’t work remotely (i.e. making hardware)?
Can we run reviews remotely, or will important issues be overlooked by reviewers w/o the in-person immediacy? Anyone have tips?#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/8bjGy6QGwH
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 13, 2020
Change Control Board for @NASAPsyche this AM, on magnetometer mass and schedule of s/c assembly.
Then 2 hrs with @SpaceX to plan the path from now until launch! trajectories, coupled loads, tuning ISP…
Now, 1/2 day offsite w @II_ASU & Psyche ASU staff for strategy.#PI_Daily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 11, 2020
Mostly, figuring out how to maximize the effectiveness of Webexed reviews, and how to best conduct the business of the mission with travel and meeting restrictions. #PI_Daily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 11, 2020
Pretty quiet @NASAPsyche #PI_Daily.
Met w ASU team for mutual updates. Plans for articles, events, Twitter. Updates on budget. Asked for big pile of swag to take to @SpaceX.
Reviewed paper drafts.
Made giant list of spring travel, for coronavirus restrictions review. Sigh. pic.twitter.com/F3wBxYuRLf
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 9, 2020
Squirrel wishes you all a happy Friday.
Relevant to #PI_Daily for @NASAPsyche bc I walk past this tree on the way to the office, &
today was Risk Board and @SpaceX Kick-off meetings, both telecons from my office.
Both filled w laughter & some cheering. Truly.
A good day. pic.twitter.com/4FT21RpgBG
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 6, 2020
Interesting analysis presented in @NASAPsyche Project System Engineering Team today. We need the tradeoffs in propellant and arrival time at Psyche (etc) risked by missed thrusting time. Looking good. Brilliant analysts @NASAJPL #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/3GXIg2x5T6
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 4, 2020
Typical #PI_Daily day for me…
at @Maxar for @NASAPsyche Power CDR, Day 3/3.
Step out for webex: Project Systems Eng mtg and Change Control Board (all key ppl must approve any eng change).
Simultaneously arrange via email a later call with another PI.
Thus, triple-booked.
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 4, 2020
Radiation degradation, coverglass loss factor, screening factor…& more included in solar array performance modeling. Got to go from 1 AU out to 3.3 AU. @NASAPsyche Power CDR, at @Maxar in San Jose.
Power allocation, fault protection, reliability…#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/fKtOdBskzn
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 3, 2020
Step N of this #PI_Daily: finished in LA and now boarded for San Jose. Things are going well in @NASAPsyche-land. Hope to be at my hotel by 8:00. #happybusy #alsoabittired https://t.co/qc2xVzj6JE
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 3, 2020
Step 1 of @NASAPsyche travel day: boarded for LAX for instrument mtg.
Later, to San Jose for @Maxar power system CDR tomorrow & Weds.
Read 2nd round of proofs for “What is Psyche?” paper, soon on @jgrplanets.
Plus, still glowing fm launch vehicle self: @SpaceX !#PI_Daily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) March 2, 2020
Big news!!!
@NASAPsyche will launch with @SpaceX !!#PI_Daily https://t.co/jRDqI9fRhU
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 28, 2020
Today, reviewing instrument thermal, vibe, and shock tests. So far so good!
And opening our new space hardware lab at @asu!#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/VKlDJU4Cn3
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 28, 2020
When PIs collide! This week @colkin and I are on the @eapsMIT visiting committee. We miss you @Jim_Bell and Hal! #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/ZxicHpzOwE
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 25, 2020
We have 475 students on 83 @NASAPsyche capstone teams at 9 universities. Some are working on lander concepts! We’ve designed a surface testbed (all together now: we don’t know what the surface is like!) to be replicated at each univ. Here’s lab group assembling the 1st! #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/iNBy3qDz8y
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 24, 2020
Sunset from the plane home from Burbank yesterday. Good two days @NASAJPL. Today, @ASU, teaching, visitors. #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/Jv8J5PumiS
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 20, 2020
Current data says Psyche’s prob 30-60% metal. To spread ideas & that we don’t know what Psyche is, it’s my happy #PI_Daily duty to work with artists and communicators. Here’s a tiny new glimpse of @peter_rubin‘s work imagining a Psyche made of big chunks of rock and metal! 🌚🛰️ pic.twitter.com/Km54mJZaX1
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 18, 2020
Boarded for Burbank — two days this week at @NASAJPL, as w many weeks.
Today also long convo with another PI brainstorming over some decisions.
And check out this beauty! PI perk: Officially allowed to be obsessed w meteorites. #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/r6ttAWE9KL— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 18, 2020
Today’s @NASAPsyche #PI_Daily… working w a part of the team that needs some help. People are most miraculous and the most devastating part of every project. Thank goodness not a devastation this time but needs thinking & acting. Always learning abt ppl, organizations, mgt.
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 13, 2020
#PI_Daily Today is @NASAPsyche Thermal Subsystem CDR. It’s complex to keep all the parts of the s/c at their preferred temp – radiators remove heat, heaters add it, lots of models of how heat will conducted. Google space-rated heat pipe! Here’s a sense of the effort that goes in: pic.twitter.com/IoE3BXFtVo
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 11, 2020
Today’s #PI_Daily: launch clocks! Time streaks along and we labor to keep up! @NASAPsyche @evgenya SPARCS @RPappalardo @EuropaClipper@hardgrove @lunahmap pic.twitter.com/RrsuNk21Sg
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 11, 2020
What do I naturally do on a vacation day with my big brother @jameselkins? Tucson mineral show! And here’s a giant slab of Muonionalusta, a IVA iron meteorite, that might be from Psyche! #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/9uxzOsCImx
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 7, 2020
Key acronyms for the Gamma Ray and Neutron Spectrometer CDR:
High purity germanium = HPGe
Mini Low Voltage Converter = MLVC
Sensor Control Unit Module = SCUMAmazing world. #PI_Daily
(HPGe from https://t.co/cquUsypuD1) pic.twitter.com/MuqFS4qhK4— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 5, 2020
Purpose of Critical Design Reviews: Determine readiness to proceed w implementation inc fab, assembly, integration, & test.
Over two days we’ll examine all eng. aspects, inc. interface control docs, status of design drawings, test results, much more.#PI_Daily#festiveCDRseason
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 4, 2020
We’re off & running @JHUAPL w @NASAPsyche Gamma Ray & Neutron Spectrometer Critical Design Review!
This is 1st instrument in #festiveCDRseason – 17 subsys & instr CDRs, then project-level CDR in May.#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/PsJHf8CWM1
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 4, 2020
This morn met w @NASAPsyche Program Exec & w @loriglaze, Planetary Science Div Dir. Critical lessons I am always trying to follow: Speak clearly, completely, regularly w NASA HQ. Partner. Share challenges. Ask 4 advice. OK for now!
Also, bought some sweet @NASA swag!#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/sR7irj3jns— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 3, 2020
So simple and it really speaks to me. @NASAPsyche’s student art program is a constant source of joy. #PI_Daily https://t.co/DKXpiQBBiM
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 3, 2020
Different kind of sunset tonight — that’s the pond at @JHUAPL! Tonight, Superbowl, tomorrow, @NASA HQ. #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/VQ449VgpUU
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 2, 2020
Boarded at 7:15 this Sunday morning — off to @JHUAPL for our @NASAPsyche Gamma Ray and Neutron Spectrometer Critical Design Review! Also a Monday stop in to @NASA HQ to chat with the great @loriglaze. Should be a good week! #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/8kVbPgOFRi
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) February 2, 2020
Today: tech review of @geologymaiden‘s @NASAPsyche Master’s thesis! She answers the Q, What would the relative compositions of metal cores that would form in planetesimals composed of a range of chondritic materials? Quite a range! (Tiny sample below) GOOD JOB Hannah! #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/yMT3LjqDiD
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 31, 2020
Q: What is asteroid (16) Psyche?
12,000-word A: “Observations, meteorites, and models: A pre-flight assessment of the composition and formation of (16) Psyche,” accepted today @jgrplanets !
Short A: We don’t know! (Oooo the mystery! Let’s go find out!)@NASAPsyche, #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/jbLLk5niZf
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 30, 2020
all schedules, all budgets, all staffing, all challenges, all risks. How is each subsystem and instrument prepared for their upcoming CDRs? Testbeds ready? Even, what’s the current design for shipping box for WHOLE s/c to the Cape? #PI_Daily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 30, 2020
Intensive @NASAPsyche PI-ing today. PS and I discuss onboard data file structure for minimizing data loss if memory units are zapped w space radiation. Eng. Change Board: updated thermal requirements btwn s/c and DSOC. Now project MMR! Updates on EVERYTHING including…#PI_Daily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 30, 2020
8:00 phone: lunar settlement tech
9:00 Magnetometer Mthly Mgt Review
1:00 lunch w @jamestanton
1:30 misc, packing
3:00 transit > airport & @NASAPsyche staff mtg
4:00 email
4:30 board > Burbank
6:30 dinner in Pasadena w Prog Exec, @Jim_Bell, others fm team
8:30 email#PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/bgQ5AJMZup— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 29, 2020
Light @NASAPsyche work today: discussing her thesis on models of core solidification and how they reproduce iron meteorite compositions with @geologymaiden, and giving a talk on Psyche and the importance of team culture for the #NAEGrandChallenges series. #PI_Daily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 28, 2020
A disparate basket of tasks 4 @NASAPsyche #PI_Daily. Plans 4 next online course. Responses to talk invites. Consults with another PI. Strategizing science representation (me, Carol Polanskey our PS, or @Jim_Bell?) on CDRs, which have settled into final schedule. We hope. Also…
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 24, 2020
Spent the morning talking w @NASAPsyche grad students @geologymaiden and @JohnMChristoph about research, on the role of sulfur in planetesimal core formation, and the ability of solar wind and micrometeorites to produce a metal regolith, respectively. Good progress! #PI_Daily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 24, 2020
At @NASAJPL working w @NASAPsyche team. Topics: shock and vibe for instruments, order of events and location of ATLO, CDR prep (festive CDR season! Don’t forget!), slowness of IEEE parts delivery (causing some trouble). Basically, working the challenges! #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/LvIHMu8kox
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 22, 2020
mini-#PI_Daily update: I’m @NASAJPL for my usual 2-day visit. Will meet w/project manager, deputy PM, lead engineer, project scientist 1:1, and other group mtgs. All update on “worry beads,” top risks, recent changes.
PM: “I am in process of updating my list of care-abouts.”
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 21, 2020
Got back yesterday from Chile & two @NASAPsyche talks. Today, update call w David Lawrence, lead of gamma-ray & neutron spectrometer on their prep for GRNS CDR, coming up fast. Now in Pasadena hotel, ready for regular team meetings at @NASAJPL tomorrow. #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/qgMPiUeehR
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 21, 2020
On flight, reviewed ECRs on:
Lightning suppression assemblies.
Access depth for xenon fill/drain valve.
Launch Services requirements for s/c to be kept at 21C +/- 3C and 30-60% relative humidity.
Adding margin to harness length btwn each camera head and its DEA board.#PI_Daily— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 19, 2020
Bc of the complexity of @NASAPsyche s/c, any change someone wants has to be checked by all possible related systems. We have a Change Control Board and a structure of Engineering Change Requests (ECRs). Reviewed on plane: see Tweet Part2! #PI_Daily
Here’s the top of the form. pic.twitter.com/tUDlqx5CPw
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 19, 2020
During launch, of course, the spacecraft (“s/c”) experiences vibration and shock (“shock & vibe”) during launch. A lot of shock & vibe. We spend a lot of time on all the tests and models to make sure everything will be safe. #PI_Daily (2/2)
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 17, 2020
Last week to her surprise she learned I was coming to Talca to give a talk about the mission, and we met, and she made me a gift of her painting. There are not enough characters to express all the feelings. (2/2) #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/R6oiCiPkAK
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 16, 2020
In Talca, Chile, where there was an 8.8 earthquake in 2010. Here’s a house that was ruined then. Speaking to about 600 people in the opera house, with many other speakers, part of #CongresoFuturo2020. #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/DL2xJzV8NK
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 15, 2020
Completed first @NASAPsyche talk at #CongresoFuturo2020. Exploration as inspiration to solve the problems confronting us. Now to Talca to give another talk tomorrow. #PI_Daily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 14, 2020
Still polishing up the @NASAPsyche talks for #CongresoFuturo2020 in Santiago & Maule, Chile, this week. Wonderful event and excited to introduce everyone to our mission. But meanwhile, missing all the important meetings and updates back at the ranch! A hard balance. #PI_Daily pic.twitter.com/YbXw2XFu7j
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 13, 2020
Off on an airplane to give three @NASAPsyche talks! So today, working on talks and sitting on airplanes. #PI_Daily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 12, 2020
Today I talked with a @NASAPsyche graduate student about his progress in research, and with the lead of our magnetometer build about progress there.
Tonight: resubmit the revised “What is Psyche?” paper! #PI_Daily
Image of a metal world by Chris Sullivan, amazing animator. pic.twitter.com/ZZxzwlfC7v
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 11, 2020
These Monthly Management Reviews are super-helpful deep dives into how each instrument, subsystem, or the whole project is progressing. Technical, schedule, cost…etc. Usefulness depends upon open fearless communication! Always working on that. #PI_Daily (2/2)
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 9, 2020
Today Project Systems Eng mtg, Risk Board mtg, PM/PI 1:1. We track all identified risks to the mission using 1-5 scale for likelihood & consequence. We go over all top risks, and we look at any new ones. For success & safety conversation has to be open! #PI_Daily @NASAPsyche pic.twitter.com/NsP5xuvtyk
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 8, 2020
Today’s @NASAPsyche #PI_Daily-4 mtgs: lead engineer, proj scientist, staff mtg, weekly tag-up of NASA HQ, Marshall, JPL, & ASU leadership. Catching up on top risks & challenges. Big topic: cadence of subsystem CDRs up to project CDR. Will we be ready? (Y!) https://t.co/qwoxDjJR88
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 8, 2020
Jan 6 @NASAPsyche #PI_Daily from the PI…fielding final comments on new paper integrating all current data on Psyche. Discussing possible import of meteorite Steinbach. Phone calls and emails on #LPSC2020, #PI_Daily (!), a staff change due to retirement. Good day.
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 7, 2020
Three years ago yesterday @NASAPsyche and @NASALucy2Trojan were selected for flight. Those three years surely have moved fast! Now we are under 1,000 days until launch.
And for anyone interested in the effective #PI_Daily of that day, here’s a blog: https://t.co/8rDY2DGnzc?
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 5, 2020
.@NASAPsyche #PI_Daily for Sun. Jan 5: Spent ~4 hours revising our new team paper, colloquially called “What is Psyche?” What does all the latest data add up to? A super-mysterious asteroid!
Special thanks to our three reviewers for being helpful, substantive, and kind! Whoa!
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 5, 2020
The more prosaic part of space mission work today: writing recommendation letters for junior members of the team who are applying for new jobs or other internships. When I really know the person and we have actually worked together, I am happy to write. 🧐⌨️🖨️ #PI_Daily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 4, 2020
Long computer day. Looking at results of a Psyche occultation (@colkin 👀) and reading a series of #LPSC2020 abstracts from the Psyche team — submission Jan. 7! Ideas about the collisional history of Psyche, and updates on data analysis for the GRNS, among others. #PI_Daily!
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 3, 2020
…confirmed scheduling project CDR May 11-15. This is #FestiveCDRseason, 17 CDRs plus the big project CDR. It’s the season of the giving and receiving of pptx decks!
Plus, this is what it looks like outside, second-to-last day before heading back to Arizona. pic.twitter.com/LNzxlNVAFD
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 2, 2020
Two #PI_Daily posts today! In our important weekly 1:1 Project Manager Henry Stone and I discussed the scheduling and budgeting of our C&DH (command and data handling, the brainstem of the s/c — ahem, spacecraft) build, and …
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 2, 2020
So far for @NASAPsyche, a 1-hr interview for an article, & two phone calls on mission processes w ppl working on other missions. Later, usual hour-long catch-up between myself & Henry Stone, the Project Manager (top boss) for Psyche at @NASAJPL. One more update later. #PI_Daily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 2, 2020
Today, Jan. 1, 2020, for @NASAPsyche I read three reviews for a paper we’ve written abt what the asteroid Psyche might be, and I mentally prepared to make the revisions to the paper over the weekend. #PIDaily
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 1, 2020
Look for #PI_Daily
I started today with @NASAPsyche mission and will aim to tweet most days with what I’m working on. Share the journey! (2/2) 🛰🚀🛰
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 2, 2020
Hello space enthusiasts!
Starting today, several mission Principal Investigators & Deputy PIs will be daily tweeting their everyday tasks, efforts, challenges in working on their missions. Goal is to share the experience! (1/2) 🚀🛰🚀
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 2, 2020
My inaugural #PIDaily tweet! Will share PI activities for @NASAPsyche regularly. Watch the hashtag for other PIs and Deputy PIs to share their chores, challenges, tasks, assignments, duties, etc on a near-daily cadence.
— Lindy Elkins-Tanton (@ltelkins) January 1, 2020