scope:

Abstract:

The Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) successfully launched on November 18, 1989, following a postponement due the the Challenger Shuttle Accident. The spacecraft enabled NASA scientist Dr. John Mather and his colleague, Dr. George Smoot (University of California/Berkeley) to investigate the origin of galaxies and stars and offer the most conclusive evidence of the big bang theory to date. Mather and Smoot were awarded the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics for this research.

On March 7-9, 1990, an On-Orbit Engineering Performance Review was held at Goddard Space Flight Center. The following document covers the contents of this review and the lessons learned from COBE. Key topics include on-board anomaly, quality assurance, structure, deployables, thermals, power, C & DH, Attitude Control, Communications, Dewar, Contamination, Instrument Mechanisms, Operations, Ground Systems, Orbit and Attitude Determination.