A plasma instrument (called PIMS) sensor assembly is mounted on the vibration table (also known as the vibe table or shaker) at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, in preparation for a simulated launch test. PIMS lead engineer David Coren (left) and PIMS mechanical engineer Erik Hohlfeld (right) monitor telemetry from the instrument during the test. A protective cover is installed over the Faraday cups (top and right) to keep the instrument interior clean and free of biological contamination. Accelerometers are attached to the instrument to monitor the vibrations and forces the instrument experiences.