scope:

Abstract:

The Aquarius reflector was damaged by over-testing during a 2007 test in the JPL acoustic test chamber. The root cause was attributed to a procedural deviation, and the proximate cause was identified as a test control system safing feature that did not activate. This may have been affected by the procedural deviation, but more likely resulted from test control software that had not been updated to the current version. The Aquarius Special Review Board issued a set of recommendations that may help to avoid future over-test incidents.