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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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GALEX
|
| Mission |
Galaxy
Evolution Explorer |
| Launch Vehicle |
Pegasus
XL |
| Launch Location |
Skid Strip, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station |
| Launch Date |
March
25, 2003 (Under Review) |
| Launch Window |
6:50
- 8:50
a.m. EST (Drop time 7:00 a.m.) |
|
| |
|
Status
(processing
notes)
|
| Based
on results of tests performed on the GALEX spacecraft on
March 4, it has been determined that additional inspection
of electrical connectors on the spacecraft is required
that will require additional time for processing in the
Multi-purpose Payload Processing Facility (MPPF). A
documentation review of the thrust vector control system
on the Pegasus third stage will also be undertaken during
this time. The launch is being rescheduled to no earlier
than April 2, 2003, pending availability of the Eastern
Range.
Once the GALEX spacecraft
is mated to the Pegasus late next week and the mechanical
and electrical connections have been established, an
Interface Verification Test will be performed.
The Orbital Sciences L-1011
carrier aircraft with the Pegasus launch vehicle arrived
at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station from Vandenberg Air
Force Base, Calif. on Feb. 18. In the MPPF, Flight
Simulation No. 3 was successfully completed on March 3.
The payload attach fitting is being installed today.
GALEX will be transported
to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on March 21 for mating
to the Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft.
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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ProSEDS
|
| Mission |
Propulsive
Small Expendable Deployer System |
| Launch Vehicle |
Delta II |
| Launch Pad |
Pad
17-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station |
| Launch Date |
Indefinite |
|
| |
|
Status
(processing
notes)
|
| Update:
A decision has been
made to remove ProSEDS from the current launch opportunity
slated for March 29, 2003. An evaluation as to
whether ProSEDS can be flown on a future opportunity is
being explored. This will help assure full mission
success of ProSEDS and the primary payload. |
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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
15, 2003 |
| Launch
Time |
4:34:07
a.m. EDT |
|
| |
|
Status
(processing
notes)
|
| The
SIRTF spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at Kennedy Space
Center on Thursday, March 6. It is being shipped from the
Lockheed Martin plant at Sunnyvale, Calif. It will be
processed at NASA Spacecraft Hangar AE on Cape Canaveral
Air Force Station.
The erection of the Boeing
Delta II launch vehicle on Pad 17-B began on Monday, Feb.
24 with the erection of the first stage. Erection of the
nine solid rocket boosters is underway this week. The
second stage is planned for hoisting atop the first stage
on March 12.
The Space Infrared
Telescope Facility (SIRTF) will obtain images and spectra
by detecting the infrared energy, or heat, radiated by
objects in space. Most of this infrared radiation is
blocked by the Earth’s atmosphere and cannot be observed
from the ground.
Consisting of a telescope
and three cryogenically cooled science instruments, SIRTF
is one of NASA’s largest infrared telescopes to be
launched. Its highly sensitive instruments will give us a
unique view of the Universe and allow us to peer into
regions of space that are hidden from optical telescopes
on the ground or orbiting telescopes such as the Hubble
Space Telescope. Many areas of space are filled with vast,
dense clouds of gas and dust that block our view. Infrared
light can penetrate these clouds, allowing us to peer into
regions of star formation, the centers of galaxies, and
into newly forming planetary systems.
Infrared also brings us
information about the cooler objects in space, such as
smaller stars that are too dim to be detected by their
visible light, extra solar planets, and giant molecular
clouds. Also, many molecules in space, including organic
molecules, have their unique signatures in the infrared. |
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|
MER-1
/
MER-2
|
| Mission |
Mars
Exploration Rovers (MER-1/MER-2) |
| 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
p.m. EDT |
|
| |
|
Status
(processing
notes)
|
| At
Kennedy Space Center, the first of two Mars Exploration
Rovers, MER-2 has begun its prelaunch testing in the
Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF). Processing of
the MER-1 cruise stage, lander, aersoshell and heat shield
is also underway. A functional test of the MER-2 rover
systems will be conducted on March 6 and March 9. The
MER-1 rover is scheduled to arrive at KSC on March 11.
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 payload
will be transported to the launch pad for mating with
their respective Boeing Delta II rockets.
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 18. The Delta for the second
launch on June 25 will begin erection activities on May 1
on Pad 17-B. |
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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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