| NASA’s
Aura spacecraft, the latest in the Earth Observing System
(EOS) series, is at the Astrotech payload processing facility
on North Vandenberg Air Force Base. The spacecraft propulsion
system testing was completed. Final preparation for fueling
is scheduled to be completed on May 12. The spacecraft
will be fueled on May 13, followed by preparation for
spacecraft mate to payload attached fitting currently
scheduled for May 24.
The assembly of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on
Space Launch Complex 2, located on North Vandenberg Air
Force Base, began on April 29 with the stacking of the
first stage. The payload fairing was hoisted into the
tower on April 30. The second stage was hoisted atop the
first stage on May 1. Installation of the nine solid rocket
boosters was completed Wednesday.
Aura’s four state-of-the-art instruments will study
the dynamics of chemistry occurring in the atmosphere.
The spacecraft will provide data to help scientists better
understand the Earth’s ozone, air quality and climate
change.
The EOS Aura satellite, instruments and science investigations
are managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
in Greenbelt, Md. Government oversight of launch preparations
and the countdown management on launch day is the responsibility
of the NASA Launch Services Program based at John F. Kennedy
Space Center. The launch service is provided to NASA by
Boeing Launch Services.
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