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CONTOUR Processing Notes |
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The launch of the Boeing Delta II rocket with NASA's CONTOUR spacecraft occurred at 2:47:41.366 EDT from Pad 17-A at Cape Canaveral. Spacecraft separation occurred at 3:51 a.m., 63 minutes after launch. CONTOUR was acquired by the Goldstone tracking station of the Deep Space Network 19 minutes later at 4:09 a.m., one hour twenty two minutes after launch. Spacecraft engineers at the Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University confirmed at 5:45 a.m. EDT that the spacecraft is in good health. (July 3, 2002 status report) |
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The
Flight Program Verification, a simulated flight test of the launch vehicle and
the integrated spacecraft, was completed June 21. This combined composite
electrical test and flight sequence test was the final major test prior to
launch. The vehicle’s mechanical and electrical systems are to be actuated
during the simulated plus count.
The NASA Flight Readiness Review (FRR) was held on June 26. The purpose of this review was to obtain concurrence to load the second stage of the launch vehicle with propellants on June 27. The NASA FRR cleared all open issues with the following exception. The payload fairing installation operation began on June 25 and was halted when an interference was encountered between the acoustic support structure of the fairing and the de-spin weight attached to the third stage. The root cause of the anomaly was determined to be a design flaw. The resolution of this problem is to install a shorter replacement strut on the acoustic shelf in order to gain the proper clearance. This issue has not had an impact on the July 1 launch date. The NASA Launch Readiness Review is scheduled for June 29. The purpose of this review is to obtain concurrence to enter into the countdown on Sunday, June 30. (June 27, 2002 status report) |
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The CONTOUR spacecraft, mated to an upper stage booster, was transported from SAEF-2 to Pad 17-A early this morning. The move began at 2:15 a.m. and the arrival at the pad occurred at 4:30 a.m. CONTOUR was hoisted atop the Delta II at 7:50 a.m. The mating of the spacecraft to the upper stage booster, or Delta third stage, was performed at SAEF-2 on Monday, June 17. The Flight Program Verification, a simulated flight test of the launch vehicle and the integrated spacecraft, is scheduled for June 21. This combined composite electrical test and flight sequence test will be the final major test prior to launch. The vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems are to be actuated during the simulated plus count. The loading of CONTOUR with hydrazine fuel was completed on June 7 and a "wet" spin balance test with fuel aboard was completed on June 11. A "dry" spin balance without fuel aboard was completed June 1. In a summary of other launch vehicle preparations at Space Launch Complex 17, erection of the Delta first stage booster was performed on May 28. The solid rocket boosters were attached around the base of the first stage on May 29. The launch vehicle second stage was hoisted atop the first stage on May 31. The fairing was hoisted into the mobile service tower's clean room on June 5. A Simulated Flight test of the launch vehicle was conducted on June 13. A crew certification exercise for the Boeing console operators who load the liquid oxygen aboard the Delta first stage was performed on Friday, June 14. This included a checkout of the liquid oxygen propulsion system. (June 19, 2002 status report) |
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At SAEF-2, loading of CONTOUR with hydrazine fuel was completed on June 7. The "wet" spin balance test was completed on June 11. A "dry" spin balance without fuel aboard was completed June 1. The spacecraft will be mated to the upper stage booster on Monday, June 17. CONTOUR is currently scheduled for transportation to the launch pad and mated to the Delta II on June 19. At Space Launch Complex 17, erection of the Delta first stage booster was performed on May 28. The solid rocket boosters were attached around the base of the first stage on May 29. The launch vehicle second stage was hoisted atop the first stage on May 31. The faring was hoisted into the mobile service tower's clean room on June 5. A Simulated Flight test of the launch vehicle is scheduled for Thursday, June 13. A crew certification exercise for the Boeing console operators who load the liquid oxygen aboard the Delta first stage is scheduled for Friday, June 14. This also checks the liquid oxygen propulsion system. (June 12, 2002 status report) |
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At SAEF-2, the solar arrays were installed and light-tested on May 28-29. A final test was then conducted of the CONTOUR science instruments. The spacecraft was then placed on a spin table for an initial spin test before fuel is loaded aboard later this week on Friday, June 7. A second spin test with the spacecraft fully fueled will then be conducted next week. The spacecraft will be mated to the upper stage booster on June 17. CONTOUR is currently scheduled for transportation to the launch pad and mated to the Delta II on June 19. At Space Launch Complex 17, erection of the Delta first stage booster was performed on May 28. The solid rocket boosters were attached around the base of the first stage on May 29. The launch vehicle second stage was hoisted atop the first stage on May 31. (June 5, 2002 status report) |
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At SAEF-2, spacecraft Mission Operations testing concluded successfully on Tuesday, and today, CONTOUR was mated to its solid propellant apogee kick motor. Next week, the solar arrays will be installed and light-tested. On June 4-5, there will be a final test of the CONTOUR science instruments. The spacecraft will then be placed on a spin table for an initial spin test before fuel is loaded aboard. Fueling is currently scheduled for June 7-8. A second spin test with the spacecraft fully fueled will then be conducted. The Boeing Delta II launch vehicle second stage arrived at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Monday, April 1. It continues to undergo checkout at Delta launch vehicle Hangar AO without any issues or concerns. The Delta first stage arrived at Cape Canaveral on April 15 and is at Hangar M. At Space Launch Complex 17, erection of the Delta booster will begin next week on Tuesday, May 28. The pre-vehicle-on-stand (Pre-VOS) review was completed yesterday at the Boeing facility in Huntington Beach, Calif., without any significant issues or concerns. (May 22, 2002 status report) |
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At
SAEF-2, a five-day Contour Mission Simulation is underway using ground
station facilities at the MILA tracking station at KSC to connect the
spacecraft with the CONTOUR mission operations control center located at
the Applied Physics Laboratory in Baltimore, Md. The mission operations
team is following a compressed timeline that simulates the flight of
CONTOUR, remotely commanding all of the spacecraft's systems and
instruments. The Deep Space Network compatibility test was completed on Friday, May 10 also using facilities located at the MILA tracking station at KSC. This test verifies CONTOUR's ability to communicate with the world-wide system of deep space tracking stations operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The spacecraft has also successfully completed the System Performance Test to verify that all spacecraft systems are functioning to their design capabilities. The CONTOUR Mission Readiness Review is being held today at the Applied Physics Laboratory in Baltimore. The Boeing Delta II launch vehicle second stage arrived at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Monday, Apr. 1. It continues to undergo checkout at Delta launch vehicle Hangar AO without any issues or concerns. The Delta first stage arrived at Cape Canaveral on Apr. 15 and is at Hangar M. At Space Launch Complex 17, erection of the Delta booster will begin on Tuesday, May 28. A pre-vehicle-on-stand (Pre-VOS) review is scheduled for May 21 at the Boeing facility in Huntington Beach, CA. The science window available to launch CONTOUR is July 1 - July 25. (May 15, 2002 status report) |
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At
SAEF-2, the CONTOUR spacecraft has successfully completed the System
Performance Test to verify that all spacecraft systems are functioning
to their design capabilities. This week the Deep Space Network compatibility test is under way using facilities located at the MILA tracking station at KSC. This test verifies CONTOUR's ability to communicate with the world-wide system of deep space tracking stations operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The CONTOUR Mission Readiness Review will be held next week at the Applied Physics Laboratory in Baltimore on May 15. The Boeing Delta II launch vehicle second stage arrived at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Monday, Apr. 1. It continues to undergo checkout at Delta launch vehicle Hangar AO without any issues or concerns. The Delta first stage arrived at Cape Canaveral on Apr. 15 and is at Hangar M. At Space Launch Complex 17, erection of the Delta booster will begin on Tuesday, May 28. A pre-vehicle-on-stand (Pre-VOS) review is scheduled for May 21 at the Boeing facility in Huntington Beach, Calif. (May 9, 2002 status report) |
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The
Contour spacecraft arrived at KSC late on April 24. The following
morning it was taken to NASA Spacecraft Assembly & Encapsulation
Facility-2 (SAEF-2) in the KSC Industrial Area to begin preparations for
launch. The flight batteries were installed and charged. Software was
installed for four days of spacecraft performance testing which is
currently underway. Some solar cells that were damaged during shipping
of the spacecraft have been removed and replaced. The Boeing Delta II launch vehicle second stage arrived at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Monday, Apr. 1 and is undergoing checkout at Delta launch vehicle Hangar AO. The Delta first stage arrived at Cape Canaveral on Apr. 15 and is at Hangar M. The Contour Mission Readiness Review will be held at the Applied Physics Laboratory in Baltimore on May 15. At Space Launch Complex 17, erection of the Delta booster will begin on May 28. A pre-vehicle-on-stand (Pre-VOS) review is scheduled for May 21 at the Boeing facility in Huntington Beach, Calif. (May 1, 2002 status report) |
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The
Contour spacecraft has been shipped from NASA's Goddard Space Flight
Center in Greenbelt, MD and will arrive at KSC tonight to begin final
checkout and preparations for launch. The spacecraft's electrical ground
support and test equipment began arriving at KSC yesterday. The Contour Mission Readiness Review will be held at the Applied Physics Laboratory in Baltimore on May 15. The Boeing Delta II launch vehicle second stage arrived at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Monday, Apr. 1 and is undergoing checkout at Delta launch vehicle Hangar AO. The Delta first stage arrived at Cape Canaveral on Apr. 15 and is at Hangar M. At Space Launch Complex 17, erection of the Delta booster is planned to begin on May 28. A pre-vehicle-on-stand (Pre-VOS) review continues to be scheduled for May 21 at the Boeing facility in Huntington Beach, Calif. (April 24, 2002 status report) |
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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. The spacecraft's electrical ground support
and test equipment will arrive two days prior on Apr. 23. The launch vehicle second stage arrived at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Monday, Apr. 1 and is undergoing checkout at Delta launch vehicle Hangar AO. The Delta first stage arrived at Cape Canaveral on Apr. 15 and taken initially to Hangar M. At Space Launch Complex 17, erection of the Delta booster is planned to begin on May 28. A pre-vehicle-on-stand (Pre-VOS) review is scheduled for May 21 at the Boeing facility in Huntington Beach, Calif. (April 17, 2002 status report) |
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The spacecraft's solid rocket motor arrived at KSC on Tuesday,
April 2 and is being processed at SAEF-2 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 April 25 to begin final checkout and preparations for launch. The spacecraft's electrical ground support and test equipment will arrive two days prior on
April 23. The launch vehicle second stage arrived at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Monday, April 1 and is undergoing checkout at Delta launch vehicle Hangar AO. The Delta first stage is scheduled to arrive at Cape Canaveral on April 15. At Space Launch Complex 17, erection of the Delta booster is planned to begin on May 28. A pre-vehicle-on-stand (Pre-VOS) review is scheduled for May 21 at the Boeing facility in Huntington Beach, Calif. (April 10, 2002 status report) |
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The spacecraft's solid rocket motor arrived at KSC on Tuesday,
April 2 and will be processed at SAEF-2 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 April 25 to begin final checkout and preparations for launch. The spacecraft's associated ground support equipment will arrive two days prior on
April 23. At Space Launch Complex 17, erection of the Delta booster is planned to begin on May 29. The launch vehicle second stage arrived at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Monday, April 1 and is undergoing checkout at Delta launch vehicle Hangar AO. (April 3, 2002 status report) |
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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. (March 27, 2002 status report) |
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The CONTOUR Ground Operations review was held at
KSC on Mar. 13 to assess the readiness of the SAEF-2 spacecraft checkout
facility and the ability to meet all associated support requirements.
The spacecraft's solid propellant motor will arrive at KSC on April 1 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 April 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. (March 20, 2002 status report) |
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Page Last Revised |
Page & Curator Information |
07/10/2002 |
Curator:
Kay Grinter (kay.grinter-1@ksc.nasa.gov) /
InDyne, Inc. |