scope:

Description of Driving Event:

During mating of the Magellan Spacecraft connectors within the forward equipment module (a confined space with limited visibility), the technician observed sparks, flames, and smoke. The primary cause was the inadvertent mating of at least two pins of the spacecraft harness connector P2 to connector J3 of Battery 1. The mismate of these connectors created an electrical short circuit within the J3 connector that, using the energy stored in the battery, produced the damage on Battery 1, connector P2 and the battery thermal blanket.