Date: November 23, 1999

To: Distribution

From: Jeannette Plante, Swales Aerospace

Subject: Notes From Trip to BICC Nov 18 -- 19 Regarding SSQ21654 Anomaly
Investigation

When I joined the Boeing/ISS review team at BICC in Jackson, TN on
Thursday, November 18^th^, they were starting the second half of a
review of the build and traceability records for a predetermined six of
cable. During this time I continued to review the records which had been
distributed by SEA and BICC regarding corresponding reel numbers, dates
of manufacture and fiber lot numbers.

I photographed the "color line" which BICC uses to measure fiber OD and
which respools the reels of fiber. Dale Zevotek photographed the
extrusion line for me (see attachment).

The group was given a demonstration of the operation of the "color line"
during which I and Craig Mueller of Aerospace Corp., took electrostatic
field measurements at different locations along the fiber's path as it
was re-spooled. I used the 3M 709 Static Sensor. Craig Meuller use the
Pastic Systems 42720 Static Field Meter.

The machine was first operated at 20 m/min and measurements were taken
and recorded. The machine was then switch to operate at 50 m/min and
again measurements were made. Dale Zevotek reported to me that the
tension on the fiber during this respooling was about 50g. The data
taken is shown in Table 1. Through-out these measurements and
measurements taken around the extrusion line, the minimum fields
measured using the 3M meter were between +50V/inch and --50 V/inch.

Table 1. Electrostatic Field Measurements Taken Around "Color Line"

  ----------------- ------------ -------------- ----------- -------------- -----------
  Location          Identifier   Field During   Field       Field During   Field
                    on Figure 1  20 m/min       During 50   20 m/min       During 50
                                 operation      m/min       operation      m/min
                                 (V/inch)       operation   (V/inch)       operation
                                                (V/inch)                   (V/inch)

                                 3M 709                     42720          
                                 Measurements               Measurements   

  Let-out reel      1            +40            +25         -200           +640

  1^st^ pair of     2            +30            +110                       
  tension control                                                          
  wheels                                                                   

  Pre-ionizier      3            -2000          \> -10,000  +350           
  wheel                                                                    

  Post-ionizer      3a                                      -980           -900

  Entrance into     4            -140           -1150       -300           -3500
  wheel/belt                                                               
  section                                                                  

  Exit out of       5            -35            -65                        0
  wheel/belt                                                               
  section                                                                  

  Pre-OD detector   6a                                                     -500

  Post OD detector  6            -25            -45                        

  Take-up reel      7            +85            +50         +50            -300
  ----------------- ------------ -------------- ----------- -------------- -----------

Dale Zevotek arranged to have the extrusion line operating making a
fiber-less buffer tube. During this operation, the extrusion line was
monitored in various spots for electrostatic field strength. Figure 2
identifies the spots which correspond to the data in Table 2.

Table 2. Electrostatic Field Measurements Taken Around the Extrusion
Line

  --------------------------------- ----------------- -------------------
  Location                          Identifier on     Field (V/inch)
                                    Figure 2          

  Let-out reel                      A                 -750

  Air space between quenching baths B                 -150

  Exit of second quenching bath     C                 -10

  Length counter (wheel & belt)     D                 \*

  Rubber belts -- entry             E                 -110

  Rubber belts -- exit              F                 -45

  Tension wheels -- 1^st^           G                 +2000

  Tension wheels -- 2^nd^           H                 +2250

  Tension wheels -- 3^rd^           I                 +75

  Ground chain                      J                 -100

  Metal feeder wheel                K                 +305

  Take up reel (in path of          L                 -1500
  de-ionizing fan)                                    
  --------------------------------- ----------------- -------------------

> \* Did not capture numerical data but recollection is that it was near
> the

minimum/floor of 50V/inch.

The next day a telecon was then executed with those at BICC, Martin
Seifert at Spectran and Henning Leidecker at GSFC. Following this, the
extrusion line was run again to show the jacketing operation (which is
virtually the same as the buffering operation with the exception of the
use of different tooling). I was not able to stay for the wrap-up due to
my flight schedule.

Figure 1. Color Line

![](media/image1.png){width="5.995138888888889in"
height="8.113194444444444in"}

Figure 2. Extrusion Line

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="5.9944444444444445in"
height="4.623611111111111in"}

Distribution:

Boeing-HB: D. Gill, J. White, H. Battaglia

Boeing-KSC: E. Banks, C. Moore, D. Tambert

NASA ISS: R. Prestridge, D. Beverly

NASA GSFC: H. Leidecker, J. Kolasinski

BICC: D. Zevotek, D. Rothermel

Spectran. M. Seifert

SEA: A. Cantwell

Aerospace: C. Meuller

Swales: M. Ott