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3. ASSEMBLE THE INSTRUMENT BOOMS.
View the whole assembled model
Lunar Prospector's science instruments are supported at the end of three booms. Each boom is made of thin fiberglass trusswork, which is tightly coiled up inside a cannister prior to launch, ready to spring out. The scale size of the cannister is the size of the rectangles, labelled A, G, and M, protruding from the spacecraft bus. Enroute to the Moon, the booms were deployed by reeling out a restraining tape, one for each boom, from the center of the their support structure inside the bus.
- Release one of the INSTRUMENT BOOMs from Parts Sheet B. Be careful not to clip off the two tabs which will be used to hold the boom together.
- The INSTRUMENT BOOM piece is made up of three long trusswork panels hinged together lengthwise. Fold along both hinges, bringing the two outer panels up to touch, creating a boom with a triangular cross-section. Crease the fold. Insert the two thin rectangular tabs into the slots they meet. Twist the tabs to prevent them from slipping back out. Apply a little glue to hold the boom's shape.
- Repeat with the two remaining INSTRUMENT BOOMS.
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