Shuttle Processing Notes

The launch of ICESat/CHIPSat occurred successfully on Sunday, January 12 at 4:45 p.m. PST. The Boeing Delta II launch vehicle performance was nominal. On-orbit, both ICESat and CHIPSat are operating satisfactorily. (January 22, 2003 status report)

The two-day operation to install the two halves of the payload fairing around the payload atop the rocket begins today and is the final major activity to be performed before launch. The Flight Program Verification, the last major test, was completed on Dec. 5 and verified that the vehicle and the spacecraft are operating in an integrated manner. The ICESat/CHIPSat payload was mated to the Delta II at the launch pad on Dec. 3 and a state of health check of the two satellites was successfully performed.
The Flight Readiness Review is scheduled for Dec. 13. At this time there are no issues or concerns with the Boeing Delta II vehicle or the spacecraft.

On launch day, the gantry-like mobile service tower will be retracted from around the spacecraft at 6:30 a.m. PST. Cryogenic fueling of the rocket will begin at 3 p.m. PST. Launch is on schedule for Thursday, Dec. 19 at 4:45 p.m. PST.

Launch coverage on NASA Television begins at 3 p.m. PST. (December 20, 2002 status report)

The ICESAT/CHIPSAT payload was rolled out of the Astrotech Space Operations Payload Processing Facility on Tuesday night, arriving at Space Launch Complex 2 located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday morning. It was then hoisted atop the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle. Mechanical and electrical connections are complete and a spacecraft state of health has been performed.

The remaining major test is the Flight Program Verification scheduled for today. This will verify that the vehicle and the spacecraft are operating in an integrated manner. Work to install the two fairing halves around the spacecraft is scheduled to begin on Dec. 11 and be completed the following day, the final major activity to be performed before launch.

There are no issues or concerns with the Boeing Delta II vehicle, the ICESAT or CHIPSAT spacecraft and launch is on schedule for Thursday, Dec. 19 at 4:45 p.m. PST. (December 5, 2002 status report)

At the Astrotech Space Operations Payload Processing Facility, the fueling of the ICESAT spacecraft was completed on Nov. 18. The satellite was mated to its Payload Attach Fitting on Nov. 20. ICESAT and the upper Payload Attach Fitting were also mated to the cone of the Dual Payload Attach Fitting (DPAF) on Nov. 22. The ICESAT spacecraft will be transported to the launch pad early next week.

Also at Astrotech, CHIPSAT spacecraft has completed all functional testing and is also ready for its transport to the launch pad next week. The Payload Adapter Assembly and Payload Adapter Fitting were installed onto the spacecraft Nov. 8. CHIPSAT mating to the Reduced-Height Dual Payload Attach Fitting (RH DPAF) was completed on November 12 and mating of the upper cone/cylinder to the lower cone of the RH DPAF was completed the following day.

Meanwhile, at Space Launch Complex 2, the Simulated Flight (Sim Flight) that is a flight test of the Delta II electrical and mechanical systems was successfully completed on Nov 18. Boeing is currently installing special instrumentation on the RH DPAF and making final preparations for the arrival of the payload on Dec. 3. The single remaining test is the Flight Program Verification on Dec. 5 to verify that the vehicle and spacecraft are operating in an integrated manner. The two fairing halves are scheduled for installation around the vehicle on Dec. 11-12.

There are no issues or concerns with the Boeing Delta II vehicle and the launch is on schedule for Thursday, Dec. 19 at 4:45 p.m. PST. (November 27, 2002 status report)

At the Astrotech Space Operations Payload Processing Facility, ICESAT battery conditioning was completed on Nov. 16. The two-day spacecraft fueling operation is in progress. ICESAT mating to its Payload Attach Fitting (PAF) is scheduled for Nov. 20. The ICESAT and upper PAF will then be mated to the Dual Payload Attach Fitting (DPAF) cone on Fri., Nov. 22.

The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System functional test and a solar array illumination test have been successfully completed. The instruments on ICESAT have been developed by the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) under a contract with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.

Also at Astrotech, CHIPSAT has successfully completed spacecraft functional testing. The Payload Adapter Assembly and Payload Adapter Fitting were installed onto the spacecraft Nov. 8. CHIPSAT mating to the Reduced-Height Dual Payload Attach Fitting (RH DPAF) was completed on Nov. 12. Mating of the upper cone/cylinder to the lower cone of the RH DPAF was completed on Nov. 13.

Meanwhile, at Space Launch Complex 2, the power-on testing of the Boeing Delta II was completed successfully. The Boeing Crew Certification (Crew Cert) and liquid oxygen loading was completed on Nov. 14. This was a countdown to exercise the launch team and the first stage while loaded with liquid oxygen. The main propulsion system leak checks were completed on Nov. 15. A simulated Flight (Sim Flight), which is a flight test of the vehicle’s electrical and mechanical systems, was completed on Nov. 18.

There are no issues or concerns with the two spacecraft or the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle. Launch is on schedule for Thurs., Dec. 19 at 4:45 p.m. PST. (November 20, 2002 status report)

At the Astrotech Space Operations Payload Processing Facility, ICESAT battery conditioning started Nov. 8 and will last 12 days. The two-day spacecraft fueling operation begins Nov. 18. The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System functional test and a solar array illumination test have been successfully completed. The instruments on ICESAT have been developed by the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) under a contract with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

Also at Astrotech, CHIPSAT has successfully completed spacecraft functional testing. The Payload Adapter Assembly and Payload Adapter Fitting were installed onto the spacecraft Nov. 8. CHIPSAT mating to the Reduced-Height Dual Payload Attach Fitting (RH DPAF) was completed on November 12 and mating of the upper cone/cylinder to the lower cone of the RH DPAF is underway today.

Meanwhile, at Space Launch Complex 2, the power-on testing of the Boeing Delta II was completed successfully. The main propulsion system leak checks are underway and will be completed on Friday. On November 14, a Boeing Crew Certification (Crew Cert) and liquid oxygen loading will be held. This is a countdown to exercise the launch team and the first stage will be loaded with liquid oxygen. A Simulated Flight (Sim Flight) which is a flight test of the vehicle's electrical and mechanical systems will follow on November 18.

There are no issues or concerns with the two spacecraft or the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle and launch is on schedule for Thursday, Dec. 19 at 4:45 p.m. PST. (November 14, 2002 status report)

At the Astrotech Space Operations Payload Processing Facility, ICESAT battery conditioning starts today and will last 12 days. The two-day spacecraft fueling operation begins Nov. 18. The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System functional test and a solar array illumination test have been successfully completed. The instruments on ICESAT have been developed by the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) under a contract with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

Also at Astrotech, CHIPSAT has successfully completed spacecraft functional testing. It is being installed on the Payload Adapter Assembly and Payload Adapter Fitting today. "Install before flight" items and removal of "red tag" items begins on Friday, Nov. 8.

Meanwhile, at Space Launch Complex 2, the power-on testing of the Boeing Delta II was completed successfully. The main propulsion system leak checks are underway and will be completed on Friday. On November 14, a Crew Certification (Crew Cert) will be held. This is a countdown to exercise the launch team and the first stage will be loaded with liquid oxygen. A Simulated Flight (Sim Flight) which is a flight test of the vehicle's electrical and mechanical systems will follow on November 18.

The first stage of the Delta was erected on Oct. 22, the solid rocket motors were erected on Oct. 24, and the second stage was erected on Oct. 25.

There are no issues or concerns with the two spacecraft or the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle and launch is on schedule for Thursday, Dec. 19 at 4:45 p.m. PST. (November 7, 2002 status report)

At the Astrotech Space Operations Payload Processing Facility, the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System functional test is being performed on ICESAT today. The instruments on ICESAT were developed by the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) under a contract with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. There are no ICESAT issues or concerns.

Also at Astrotech, CHIPSAT successfully completed a spacecraft functional test yesterday. This finishes the major prelaunch testing of CHIPSAT with no issues or concerns.

Meanwhile, at Space Launch Complex 2, the first power-on testing of the Boeing Delta II begins today. The first stage of the Delta was erected on Oct. 22, the solid rocket motors were erected on Oct. 24, and the second stage was erected on Oct. 25. Main propulsion system leak checks are scheduled for next week. On Nov. 15, a Crew Certification will be held. This is a countdown to exercise the launch team, and the first stage will be loaded with liquid oxygen. A Simulated Flight (SimFlight) or flight test of the vehicle’s electrical and mechanical systems will follow on Nov. 18. (October 30, 2002 status report)

The ICESAT spacecraft was shipped to Vandenberg Air Force Base on Oct. 23 from the manufacturer Ball Aerospace manufacturing facility in Boulder, Colo. Upon arrival, ICESAT joined CHIPSAT at the Astrotech Space Operations Payload Processing Facility. The instruments on ICESAT were also developed by the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) under a contract with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

The CHIPSAT spacecraft arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base on Oct. 15, and was taken to the Astrotech Space Operations Payload Processing Facility and has began powered-on operational testing and flight simulation.
The CHIPSAT spacecraft is functioning well and processing is going smoothly with no issues or concerns. The tests are scheduled for completion on Oct. 26.

The Delta II first stage was erected on Space Launch Complex 2 on North Vandenberg Air Force Base on Oct. 22. The solid rocket motor erection is scheduled for today, Oct. 24, and will be followed by erection of the second stage on Friday, Oct. 25. The first power-on testing is scheduled to begin next week on Oct. 30. (October 24, 2002 status report)

The ICESAT spacecraft is at the Ball Aerospace Facility in Boulder, Colo. All testing has been successfully completed, and the spacecraft is being prepared for shipment to Vandenberg Air Force Base on Oct. 23.

The CHIPSAT spacecraft arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base yesterday, Oct. 15, and was taken to the Astrotech Space Operations Payload Processing Facility. The satellite is being powered on today.

The Delta II first and second stages have arrived at Vandenberg after successfully completing checkout at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The booster is scheduled for erection next week beginning Oct. 22 at Space Launch Complex 2 located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base. (October 16, 2002 status report)

The ICESAT spacecraft is at the Ball Aerospace Facility in Boulder Colorado currently undergoing vibration testing to assure electrical and mechanical connections. The ICESAT spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at Vandenberg Air Force Base on October 29.

The CHIPSAT spacecraft is at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. It successfully concluded vibration testing last week and is undergoing thermal vacuum testing this week. The CHIPSAT spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at Vandenberg Air Force Base on October 15.

The Delta II first and second stage have arrived at Vandenberg after successfully completing checkout at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The booster is scheduled for erection October 22 on Space Launch Complex 2 located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base. (October 9, 2002 status report)

The ICESAT spacecraft is at the Ball Aerospace Facility in Boulder Colorado currently undergoing workmanship vibration testing. The ICESAT spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at Vandenberg Air Force Base on October 29.

The CHIPSAT spacecraft is at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico where it just concluded vibration testing and is being prepped to undergo thermal vacuum testing starting next week. The CHIPSAT spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at VAFB on October 15.

The Delta II first and second stage arrived at VAFB last week after successfully completing its combined checkout at CCAFS. The booster is scheduled for erection October 22 at VAFB. (September 25, 2002 status report)

The ICESAT spacecraft is at the Ball Aerospace Facility in Boulder Colorado currently undergoing workmanship vibration testing. The ICESAT spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at Vandenberg Air Force Base on October 29.

The CHIPSAT spacecraft is at Kirkland Air Force Base, New Mexico where it just concluded vibration testing and is being prepped to undergo thermal vacuum testing starting next week. The CHIPSAT spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at VAFB on October 15.

The Delta II first and second stage arrived at VAFB last week after successfully completing its combined checkout at CCAFS. The booster is scheduled for erection October 22 at VAFB. (September 18, 2002 status report)

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