| |
| 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 |
Earth
Observing System Aqua Observatory |
| Launch
Vehicle |
Delta
II 7920-10L |
| Launch
Pad |
Space
Launch Complex 2, Vandenberg Air Force Base |
| Launch
Date |
April
18, 2002 (under review) |
| Launch
Time |
2:54:58
- 3:04:58
a.m. PDT |
| |
|
Status
|
The
Aqua spacecraft is at the Spaceport Systems International
(SSI) payload processing facility located on South Vandenberg
Air Force Base. The Aqua project continues to evaluate a battery
cell concern that has postponed planned fueling of the spacecraft.
The amount of launch schedule delay is under review.
At Space Launch Complex 2, the operation to hoist the payload
fairing into the gantry was completed on Monday, Mar. 20.
On Mar. 22 interface checks were performed through the fairing
between SLC-2 and spacecraft ground support equipment.
The launch vehicle's cryogenic systems and the launch team
underwent a successful "crew certification" on Mar. 19. Liquid
oxygen was loaded into the first stage and a simulated countdown
was performed to exercise the blockhouse and launch pad crews.
Additionally, a Simulated Flight Test was performed on Mar.
21. The launch vehicle systems were checked out by performing
a flight simulation to verify the flight program software
and to validate the booster sequence of events during ascent.
On Mar. 25, the first stage was fueled with RP-1, a highly
refined kerosene fuel, and leak checks of the booster were
successfully performed.
The testing of the Aqua spacecraft batteries continues. The
decision on whether to proceed with fueling the spacecraft
will be made on Monday, April 1 following a meeting to evaluate
the test results. Once this determination has been made, a
definitive launch date can be established. |
|
| |
| 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
NET |
| Launch Window |
11:22
- 11:32
a.m. PDT |
| |
|
Status
|
The
Titan II/G-14 booster for NOAA-M will be transported
to SLC-4 West on Saturday, Mar. 30 and erected on the
launch pad Monday, Apr. 1. Routine corrosion control
and maintenance was completed at the launch pad this
week as planned.
The NOAA-M spacecraft is at the Lockheed Martin plant
in Sunnyvale, Calif. and is tentatively planned for
shipment to Vandenberg on Apr. 25. The spacecraft will
be processed at NASA spacecraft hangar 1610 on North
Vandenberg Air Force Base. |
|
|
|
CONTOUR
|
| Mission |
CONTOUR (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 |
2:57:12
- 2:57:24
a.m. EDT |
|
| |
|
Status
|
The
spacecraft's solid propellant motor will arrive at KSC on Tuesday,
Apr. 2 and be processed prior to the arrival of CONTOUR. The spacecraft
is currently at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt,
MD and will arrive at KSC on Apr. 25 to begin final checkout and
preparations for launch.
At Space Launch Complex 17, erection of the Delta booster is planned
to begin on May 29. |
| |
|
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.
|
|
