May 31, 2001

George Diller/Bruce Buckingham 
Kennedy Space Center
321/867-2468

Martha Heil
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
818/354-0850

KSC Release No. 63-01

GENESIS SPACECRAFT ARRIVES AT KSC FOR LATE JULY LAUNCH

NASA's Genesis spacecraft, to be launched aboard a Boeing Delta II vehicle on July 30, arrived at 3:30 a.m. today at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Shuttle Landing Facility from Denver, Colo., aboard an Air Force C-17 aircraft. The spacecraft was later transported to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) in KSC's industrial area and installed into the cleanroom, where it will be processed for launch.

Genesis will capture a piece of the Sun: a sample of the ions and elements in the solar wind and bring the samples back to Earth so that scientists can study the exact composition of the Sun and probe the solar system's origin. By studying the solar wind, scientists will find clues to the formation of the solar system as we know it today.

Genesis' samples will return to Earth in a spectacular helicopter capture. As the sample return capsule glides to the ground in Utah's Air Force Testing and Training Range, specially trained helicopter pilots will catch it. The samples will then be analyzed to provide a basis, a solar matter "Rosetta Stone," for comparing the solar nebula's composition to those of the planets and other solar system bodies. 

Now that the Genesis spacecraft is at KSC, processing will begin with a functional test, an electrical systems test of the entire spacecraft and the solar arrays will be deployed. This will be followed on June 7 with a Deep Space Network compatibility test to verify the spacecraft's communications systems and the radio links associated with the worldwide network of tracking stations.

Beginning June 11, Science Performance Tests will begin. These tests will verify that all of the science instruments will operate as designed. On June 12, the solar arrays will have a final cleaning and be stowed for launch. Upon completion of this activity, the spacecraft will be ready for hydrazine propellant loading activities scheduled the week of June 22. A spin-balance test will follow on June 29. 

Finally in the PHSF, Genesis will be mated to a Star 37 upper stage booster on July 17 before being transported to Space Launch Complex 17 the following day. Once mated to the Delta II, a spacecraft functional test will be performed. The payload fairing is to be installed around Genesis on July 25.

Stacking of the Boeing Delta 7326 launch vehicle began at Pad 17-A is scheduled to begin on June 12. Launch is scheduled for July 30 at 12:36 p.m. EDT.

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages NASA's Genesis project. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, Colo., built the Genesis spacecraft.


NOTE TO EDITORS:  For additional information on the Genesis mission visit http://genesismission.jpl.nasa.gov/

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