Test and Evaluation Aspects of the Nimbus II Program Useful to Other Long Life Space Programs

The Nimbus II satellite has been in orbit 20 months (to January 15, 1968), operating well within design specifications as a carrier spacecraft for meteorological instruments. This spacecraft includes a three axis active attitude control system which itself is more complex than many other satellites and their included payloads. An essential element of the total development of Nimbus is the intensive and extensive test and evaluation programs at the General Electric Company, to which the prototype/qualification and flight spacecraft were exposed, coupled with selected design features which contribute to long life. Although a rigid causal relation cannot be established between the programs\u27 administrative and technical activities associated with the design of the spacecraft, integration of payloads and the test and evaluation program, and the long-life on-orbit performance experienced, they are considered important contributing factors. This paper reviews: the essential elements of the General Electric Company\u27s program, long-life aspects of the spacecraft f s basic design, the fundamental philosophies which guide the test and evaluation program, the multiple nature of the test and evaluation program, review and analysis of failures encountered in the systems test programs from fabrication to alunch and of anomalies encountered in the orbital performance, and some representative lessons learned from the program which can be applied directly to other long life space programs

Surfing or drowning? Student nurses’ Internet skills

The ability to use the Internet is an essential skill for nursing students, both to support their studies, especially as nursing students spend a lot of their time in placements away from the university campus, and to support their development of skills in using what is becoming an increasingly essential tool for professionals. A study at Bournemouth University, England, found that new student nurses had poor Internet skills and were not frequent users prior to starting the course. No link was found between the students’ ages and their Internet use or skills. A clear link was however found between ability and frequency of use, except in relationship to the students’ ability to conduct an effective search. Almost half of the respondents said that they find far too much irrelevant information when searching for information on the Internet. Given the importance of Information and Technology skills to nurses, both as lifelong learners and as competent practitioners and to nursing students throughout their pre-registration education, the inclusion of a programme to ensure that they develop these skills during their pre-registration education is essential

Surfing or drowning? Student nurses’ Internet skills

The ability to use the Internet is an essential skill for nursing students, both to support their studies, especially as nursing students spend a lot of their time in placements away from the university campus, and to support their development of skills in using what is becoming an increasingly essential tool for professionals. A study at Bournemouth University, England, found that new student nurses had poor Internet skills and were not frequent users prior to starting the course. No link was found between the students’ ages and their Internet use or skills. A clear link was however found between ability and frequency of use, except in relationship to the students’ ability to conduct an effective search. Almost half of the respondents said that they find far too much irrelevant information when searching for information on the Internet. Given the importance of Information and Technology skills to nurses, both as lifelong learners and as competent practitioners and to nursing students throughout their pre-registration education, the inclusion of a programme to ensure that they develop these skills during their pre-registration education is essential