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KSC Public Affairs Contact:
George Diller (fax 407-867-2692)
E-mail: George.Diller-1@ksc.nasa.gov
Work to prepare the X-ray Timing Explorer
for launch continues at NASA Spacecraft Hangar AO on Cape Canaveral Air
Station. Current work includes final installation of the All Sky Monitor
instrument. Upcoming is installation of the spacecraft onto the Delta
payload attach fitting in preparation for going to the launch pad and
mating with the second stage of the Delta launch vehicle. Major
milestones achieved since the payload arrived at Hangar AO on May 31
include: changeout of one of the Proportional Counter Array detectors
completed on June 12; completion of a 5-day spacecraft performance test
on June 29; installation of the spacecraft batteries on July 1; a
spacecraft launch simulation on July 16; completion of a mission
simulation on July 19 covering the early hours of flight after
separation from the Delta. This included deployment of antennas and the
solar arrays.
At Pad A on Complex 17, erection of the
Delta first stage occurred on Jul. 22. The nine strap-on solid rocket
boosters were attached in sets of three between Jul. 24-26. The second
stage was hoisted for erection atop the first stage on July 28. The
tri-section fairing was hoisted into the whiteroom at the launch pad on
August 8.
Processing of the vehicle is continuing
at this time. Upcoming activities include a partial tanking of liquid
oxygen on the first stage on Aug. 19 for cryogenic leak checks, a
Simulated Flight Test of the vehicle on Aug. 21-22 which checks the
in-flight functions of the Delta after T-0, and a pair of launch crew
certifications, which includes a launch countdown and full tanking of
the vehicle with liquid oxygen on Aug. 23 and Aug. 25.
The launch date for Delta/XTE is
indefinite at this time pending completion of flight qualification of
upgraded avionics for the vehicle and the investigation into the failure
of a solid rocket booster to separate from the Delta first stage during
the recent launch of Koreasat-1. NASA managers are assessing the
earliest possible XTE launch date against what impact this may have on
the desire to hold the planned Radarsat and Polar launch dates scheduled
to occur from Vandenberg Air Force Base later this year. |
