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| Note |
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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.
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SIRTF
|
| Mission |
Space
Infrared Telescope Facility |
| Launch Vehicles |
Delta
II Heavy |
| Launch Pads |
Pad
17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station |
| Launch Date |
April
18, 2003 |
| Launch Time |
4:32:49
a.m. EDT |
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| |
|
Status
(processing
notes)
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Functional testing of SIRTF has been successfully completed and the spacecraft was mated to the Delta payload attach fitting on Mar. 31. Work is now under way to install the observatory into a transportation canister in preparation for moving to Space Launch Complex 17. SIRTF will be mated to the Boeing Delta II rocket on Saturday, April 5. There will then be an interface verification test to assure that electrical and mechanical connections have been properly established. This will be followed by a spacecraft state of health check.
At Pad 17-B on the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle, a liquid oxygen leak check of the first stage that will include a simulated countdown and the loading of liquid oxygen aboard was performed yesterday, April 2. A flight simulation to test the vehicle's systems that will operate during powered flight is under way today. An RP-1 leak check of the first stage that involves loading of the highly refined kerosene fuel is scheduled for Friday, April 4.
The Flight Program Verification, an integrated test of the vehicle and the spacecraft that is the final major test before launch, is scheduled to occur April 7. The payload fairing will be installed around SIRTF atop the Delta II on April 9 and will be followed by servicing the observatory with cryogenic helium.
Project management of SIRTF for NASA is by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The observatory is built by Lockheed Martin and Ball Aerospace.
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GALEX
|
| Mission |
Galaxy
Evolution Explorer |
| Launch Vehicle |
Pegasus
XL |
| Launch Location |
Skid Strip, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station |
| Launch Date |
April
26, 2003 NET |
| Launch Window |
7:50
- 9:50
a.m. EST (Drop time 8:00
a.m.) |
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| |
|
Status
(processing
notes)
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The GALEX test team has conducted a borescope inspection of the spacecraft and did not find any loose hardware within it. Foreign object debris shields were installed which will assure protection of the spacecraft components once the satellite is in orbit.
GALEX will be re-mated to the Pegasus on Monday, April 14. A flight simulation will follow. The fairing will be installed around GALEX on April 14. The GALEX/Pegasus will be transported to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and mated to the L-1011 carrier aircraft on April 22. An integrated test, a Combined Systems Test (CST) will follow.
The GALEX program management is by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and is part of Goddard's Small Explorer (SMEX) program. Spacecraft project management is the responsibility of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the California Institute of Technology is the lead for mission science.
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MER-1
/ MER-2
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| Mission |
Mars
Exploration Rovers |
| Launch Vehicles |
Delta II / Delta II Heavy |
| Launch Pads |
Pads
17-A / 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station |
| Launch Dates |
May
30 / June 25 |
| Launch Times |
2:28
p.m. / 12:34
a.m. EDT |
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| |
|
Status
(processing
notes)
|
Yesterday on MER-1, the science boom was deployed, tested and retracted. On Monday, March 31 a functional test and mission simulation was performed that included deployment of the solar arrays, camera mast and
camera. A functional test of the camera was also performed. This test will be repeated on Friday, April 4.
On MER-2, the solar arrays have been stowed for flight and the rover was installed on the base petal on March 28. Closeouts are now underway. Installation of the landing airbags will also occur on Friday, April 4.
Processing of the cruise stage, lander and heat shield elements for both missions continues. Once functional testing and mission simulation of the flight elements is complete, they will be integrated together. Each spacecraft will be mated to a solid propellant upper stage booster that will propel the spacecraft out of Earth orbit. After mating to the upper stage, the stack will undergo spin balance testing. Approximately ten days before launch, the fully integrated payload will be transported to the launch pad for mating with their respective Boeing Delta II rockets.
On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, first and second stage processing activities continue in launch vehicle hangars. A combined electrical system test is scheduled for Friday, April 4. The Boeing Delta II vehicle for the first launch of the two launches scheduled on May 30 is planned for erection on Pad 17-A at Space Launch Complex 17 beginning April 22. The Delta for the second launch on June 25 will begin its erection at Pad 17-B on May 1.
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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.
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