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Aura Processing Notes |
NASA’s Aura spacecraft, the latest in the Earth Observing System (EOS) series, was launched successfully on July 15, 2004 at 3:01:59.34 a.m. PDT from NASA’s Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Spacecraft separation from the Boeing Delta II occurred at 4:06:00 a.m. PDT. On-orbit, Aura is operating satisfactorily. (July 14, 2004 status reports) |
The launch of NASA's Aura spacecraft atop a Boeing Delta II rocket was scrubbed this morning due to an issue with one of the two batteries on the second stage of the Delta II launch vehicle. At approximately three minutes before the scheduled liftoff time, as the batteries were being transferred to internal power, the battery current level dropped below prescribed limits, triggering a launch hold. Engineers and mission managers are assessing the situation and will meet at 6 p.m. EDT (3 p.m. PDT) today to decide a date for the next launch attempt. Two options are being considered. The first is to attempt a launch on Thursday morning, July 15, during a three-minute launch window that opens at 6:01:59 a.m. EDT (3:01:59 a.m. PDT). The second option under consideration is to stand down until Saturday, July 17, due to range conflicts at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Weather
is a concern for a launch attempt on Thursday morning. The current
forecast calls for only a 60 percent In
addition, Tropical Storm Blas, off the coast of Baja California,
could prevent a P3 aircraft from flying to its The next launch update will be issued following the mission management team meeting this afternoon. (July 13, 2004 status reports) |
The launch of NASA’s Aura spacecraft atop a Boeing Delta II rocket has been delayed for at least 24 hours. Launch will occur no earlier than Wednesday, July 14 with a three-minute window at 6:01:59 a.m. EDT ( 3:01:59 a.m. PDT ). This morning, during final T-20 minute hold, spacecraft engineers announced that they could not resolve an outstanding issue with the solid-state recorder. Engineers have begun diagnostic testing. The mission management team will convene this afternoon at 3 p.m. PDT to confirm the new launch date. (June 29, 2004 status reports) |
| The launch of NASA’s Aura spacecraft, the latest in the Earth Observing System (EOS) series, has been rescheduled to no earlier than July 10 due to two issues. Additional time was needed to assure that suspect computer chips causing difficulty on a different satellite were not of the same lot as those aboard the Aura spacecraft. Also, the engineering review board needed additional time to clear the concern over the second stage fuel tank shutoff valve failure. It was resolved satisfactorily June 18. NASA is awaiting word from the Western Range that the request for a launch date of July 10 has been confirmed.
The spacecraft is at the Astrotech payload processing facility located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Although planned to be moved to Space Launch Complex 2 today, the wind is too high for hoisting atop the Delta II rocket. It remains on the transporter in the spacecraft hangar ready for rollout. What effect this may have on the launch date, if any, will be evaluated when the spacecraft arrives at the pad. An Aura stand-alone state-of-health check at the pad is currently planned for Thursday or Friday. The Flight Program Verification, an integrated test involving the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle and the Aura spacecraft, is scheduled to occur June 28. Payload fairing installation is scheduled to begin July 1. The Flight Readiness Review has been rescheduled for July 6. 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 Kennedy Space Center. The launch service is provided to NASA by Boeing Launch Services. (June 21, 2004 status reports) |
| The launch of NASA’s
Aura spacecraft, the latest in the Earth Observing System (EOS) series,
has been tentatively rescheduled for no earlier than July 8. During
testing of the Delta II launch vehicle on the pad at Space Launch
Complex 2, a helium leak was observed in the second stage fuel tank
shutoff valve. It was removed and replaced on June 11. The retesting
was successfully completed Tuesday. An engineering review board must
complete failure analysis of the valve that was removed.
The spacecraft is at the Astrotech payload processing facility located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and the spacecraft’s batteries are currently being charged. It is ready to be moved to Space Launch Complex 2 on Friday pending closure of open items which are under review. There will be an Aura state-of-health check on Monday, June 21, with the spacecraft atop the Delta II. The Flight Program Verification, an integrated test involving the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle and the Aura spacecraft, is scheduled to occur on June 24. The Flight Readiness Review is planned for July 1. 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 Kennedy
Space Center. The launch service is provided to NASA by Boeing
Launch Services. (June
17, 2004 status reports) |
| The launch of NASA’s Aura spacecraft, the latest in the Earth Observing System (EOS) series, has been tentatively rescheduled for no earlier than July 8. During testing of the Delta II launch vehicle on the pad at Space Launch Complex 2, a helium leak was observed in the second stage fuel tank shutoff valve. It was removed and replaced on June 11. The retesting was successfully completed Tuesday. An engineering review board must complete failure analysis of the valve that was removed. The spacecraft is at the Astrotech payload processing facility located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and the spacecraft’s batteries are currently being charged. It is ready to be moved to Space Launch Complex 2 on Friday pending closure of open items which are under review. There will be an Aura state-of-health check on Monday, June 21, with the spacecraft atop the Delta II. The Flight Program Verification, an integrated test involving the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle and the Aura spacecraft, is scheduled to occur on June 24. The Flight Readiness Review is planned for July 1. 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 Kennedy Space Center. The launch service is provided to NASA by Boeing Launch Services. (June 10, 2004 status reports) |
| The
launch of NASA’s Aura spacecraft, the latest in the Earth Observing
System (EOS) series, has been rescheduled for no earlier than July 8,
2004. During testing of the Delta II launch vehicle on the pad at Space
Launch Complex 2, a helium leak was observed in the second stage fuel
tank shutoff valve. It must be removed and replaced, and this work will
be done tomorrow. The associated retesting will be complete on Tuesday,
June 15.
The spacecraft is at the Astrotech payload processing facility located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and is ready to go to the launch pad, now rescheduled to occur on June 18. The spacecraft’s batteries are being charged during the interim. The Flight Program Verification, an integrated test involving the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle and the Aura spacecraft is scheduled to occur on June 24. The Flight Readiness Review is planned for July 1. 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. (June
3, 2004 status reports) |
| NASA’s
Aura spacecraft, the latest in the Earth Observing System (EOS) series,
is at the Astrotech payload processing facility located on North VAFB,
Calif.
A launch site readiness review was conducted on June 1. A subsequent decision was made to delay transportation and mate of the spacecraft to the Delta II launch vehicle until an issue with the Delta II second stage helium pressurization system is assessed by the launch team. Fueling of the spacecraft was completed May 14. On May 26, the spacecraft was mated to the payload attach fitting, the interface with the Delta II. The spacecraft canning was completed June 1 in preparation for transportation to Space Launch Complex (SLC) 2. The build-up of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on SLC 2, located on North VAFB, was completed. The first stage was stacked April 29 and the second stage May 1. Work to install the nine solid rocket boosters was completed May 5. 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 (KSC). The launch service is provided to NASA by Boeing Launch Services. (May 26, 2004 status reports) |
| NASA’s
Aura spacecraft, the latest in the Earth Observing System (EOS) series,
is at the Astrotech payload processing facility located on North Vandenberg
Air Force Base, Calif.
Fueling of the spacecraft was completed May 14. The next major activity is the mating to the payload attach fitting, the interface with the Delta II, scheduled to occur on May 24. Transportation of the spacecraft to Space Launch Complex 2 for mating to the second stage of the Delta II is scheduled for June 2. The build-up of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on Space Launch Complex 2, located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base, has been completed. The first stage was stacked April 29 and the second stage May 1. Work to install the nine solid rocket boosters was completed May 5. A vehicle control system check was successfully completed Monday. This procedure qualifies the first and second stage subsystems through a series of detailed tests. The first stage leak check is scheduled for Friday. It will include a simulated countdown and the loading of liquid oxygen aboard the first stage. A Simulated Flight test of the vehicle’s electrical and mechanical systems will follow on May 24. 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. (May
13, 2004 status reports) |
| NASA’s
Aura spacecraft, the latest in the Earth Observing System (EOS) series,
is at the Astrotech payload processing facility on North VAFB. Calif.
The spacecraft propulsion system testing was completed. Fueling of the
spacecraft is happening today. Spacecraft mate to the payload attach
fitting (PAF) is scheduled to occur on May 24.
The assembly of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on Space Launch Complex 2, on North VAFB, 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 May 5. The Boeing PAF preparation for flight installation continues. The first power-on testing was completed on May 11. A vehicle control check is scheduled to occur on May 17. This procedure qualifies the first and second stage subsystems through a series of detailed tests. The first stage leak check, scheduled for May 21, will include a simulated countdown and the loading of liquid oxygen. A Simulated Flight (SimFlight) or flight test of the vehicle’s electrical and mechanical systems will follow on May 24. 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.
(May
7, 2004 status reports) |
| 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.
(April 29, 2004 status
reports) |
NASA’s Aura spacecraft, the latest in the Earth Observing System (EOS) series, is at the Astrotech payload processing facility located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base. The Spacecraft Comprehensive Performance Test was successfully completed last week. This was a test of Aura’s instruments and onboard systems. This week, spacecraft propulsion system testing and preparations for fueling are underway. The erection of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on Space Launch Complex 2, located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base, begins today with the erection of the first stage. The payload fairing will be hoisted into the tower tomorrow, April 30. The second stage is planned for hoisting atop the first stage on May 1. Erection of the nine solid rocket boosters will occur in sets of three on May 3 - 5. 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 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. (April
15, 2004 status reports) |
NASA’s
Aura spacecraft, the latest in the Earth Observing System (EOS) series,
arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on April 1 to begin
launch preparations. Packed in a special shipping container, Aura
was transported from Northrop Grumman Space Technology (NGST) in Redondo
Beach, Calif. |
NASA’s Aura spacecraft, the latest in the Earth Observing System (EOS) series, arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on April 1 to begin launch preparations. Packed in a special shipping container, Aura was transported from Northrop Grumman Space Technology (NGST) in Redondo Beach, Calif. This week the Spacecraft Aliveness Test is under way. This test verifies the spacecraft’s state of health after its trip from Redondo Beach. Next week the Spacecraft Comprehensive Performance Test will begin. This is a test of Aura’s instruments and onboard systems. 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 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. |
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Page Last Revised |
Page & Curator Information |
07/21/2004 |
Curator:
Elaine Marconi (elaine.marconi-1@ksc.nasa.gov)
Web Development: JBOSC
Web Development Team |