| |
| Note |
|
This expendable launch vehicle and
payload processing status will be issued weekly. It will provide
the status of upcoming NASA missions scheduled for launch aboard
expendable launch vehicles. For additional information on
NASA ELV launches, visit: http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/elvnew/elv.htm.
|
| |
| Mission |
NOAA-M Polar
Orbiter |
| Launch Vehicle |
USAF Titan
II |
| Launch Pad |
Space Launch
Complex 4 West, Vandenberg Air Force Base |
| Launch Date |
June 24, 2002 |
| Launch Window |
11:22
- 11:32
a.m. PDT |
| |
|
Status
(processing
notes)
|
| The
launch of the NOAA-M Polar Orbiter from NASA’s Space
Launch Complex 4 West occurred successfully on Tuesday,
June 24. Liftoff of the USAF Titan II occurred at 11:23:03.538
a.m. (PDT). Spacecraft separation occurred at 11:29:35
a.m. (PDT), inserting the spacecraft into a near-polar
Sun-synchronous orbit 450 nautical miles above the Earth.
|
|
|
|
CONTOUR
|
| Mission |
Comet Nucleus Tour |
| Launch Vehicle |
Delta II 7425 |
| Launch Pad |
Space Launch Complex
17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station |
| Launch Date |
July 1, 2002 |
| Launch Window |
2:56:14
- 2:56:20
a.m. EDT |
|
| |
|
Status
(processing
notes)
|
| The
Flight Program Verification, a simulated flight test of the launch
vehicle and the integrated spacecraft, was completed June 21. This
combined composite electrical test and flight sequence test was
the final major test prior to launch. The vehicle’s mechanical and
electrical systems are to be actuated during the simulated plus
count.
The NASA Flight Readiness Review
(FRR) was held on June 26. The purpose of this review was to obtain
concurrence to load the second stage of the launch vehicle with
propellants on June 27. The NASA FRR cleared all open issues with
the following exception. The payload fairing installation operation
began on June 25 and was halted when an interference was encountered
between the acoustic support structure of the fairing and the
de-spin weight attached to the third stage. The root cause of
the anomaly was determined to be a design flaw. The resolution
of this problem is to install a shorter replacement strut on the
acoustic shelf in order to gain the proper clearance. This issue
has not had an impact on the July 1 launch date.
The NASA Launch Readiness Review
is scheduled for June 29. The purpose of this review is to obtain
concurrence to enter into the countdown on Sunday, June 30.
|
| |
|
GALEX
|
| Mission |
Galaxy
Evolution Explorer |
| Launch
Vehicle |
Pegasus
XL |
| Launch
Pad |
Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station |
| Launch
Date |
NET
August 14, 2002 |
| Launch
Time |
7:50
- 9:50
a.m. EDT |
|
| |
|
Status
(processing
notes)
|
| The
GALEX spacecraft is at the Orbital Space Systems Group facility
in Dulles, Virginia and undergoing final preparations before shipment
to KSC. The arrival date at KSC is under review.
Meanwhile, in California, the Pegasus
launch vehicle continues processing at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
The second of four flight simulations was successfully completed
on June 17. Standard prelaunch preparations are continuing on
the vehicle nose fairing.
Arrival of the Pegasus XL at KSC
is being planned to occur approximately two weeks after arrival
of the GALEX spacecraft.
|
| |
|
The Kennedy Space Center
(KSC) Newsroom offers an electronic subscription service for status
reports, news releases and other notices issued from KSC. There
are two possible ways to subscribe. You may send a blank
e-mail message to ksc-news_release-subscribe@kscnews.ksc.nasa.gov
or follow the instructions on the Web site at http://kscnews.ksc.nasa.gov.
The system will confirm the request via e-mail.
|
|
