|
MER-1 Processing Notes |
|
The launch of the
MER-B Mars Exploration Rover has been rescheduled to occur on Sunday, July 6. A loading of the first stage of the Delta launch vehicle with liquid oxygen is currently scheduled for Saturday morning. This is being done to assure launch vehicle engineers that proper bonding of the cork insulation with the surface of the first stage has been achieved. Meanwhile, other related test and evaluation continues. A launch readiness review is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. On launch day, Sunday, the gantry-like mobile service tower will be retracted from around the vehicle at 3:30 p.m. Loading of the RP-1 fuel, a highly refined kerosene, will begin at 8:03 p.m. Loading of liquid oxygen will follow at 8:53 p.m. (July 3, 2003 status report) |
|
The Flight Readiness Review was held on June 21, and afterward, a decision was made to postpone the launch by at least a couple of days. Based on routine post-test inspections, the launch team elected to remove and replace a band of protective cork insulation on the Delta first stage that may not have been adhering properly. The location is below the forward attach points of the strap-on solid rocket boosters. Inspections of a second band located higher on the first stage showed that only minor work is necessary to assure that it is ready for launch. All of the reapplication and repair of the cork insulation will be completed today. Normal countdown activities will then resume on Thursday, beginning with the fueling of the Delta second stage with its complement of storable hypergolic propellants. A countdown dress rehearsal will also be held on Thursday. The Launch Readiness Review will be held on Friday in the Mission Briefing Room at KSC. The fairing was installed around the MER-B "Opportunity" spacecraft on June 21. Fairing closeouts will begin tonight. Integrated spacecraft/launch vehicle testing indicates that the flight systems are ready for launch. At Pad 17-B on launch day, the mobile service tower will be retracted from around the Delta II about 3:30 p.m. if weather permits. Options are available to retract the mobile service tower later if there are thunderstorms in the vicinity and still reach one or both of the two available launch times. Loading of the RP-1 fuel aboard the Delta first stage is nominally planned to begin at 9:16 p.m. followed by loading of liquid oxygen at about 10:06 p.m. (June 25, 2003 status report) |
|
The MER-1 rover, Opportunity, mated to the upper stage booster and contained within its payload transporter, rolled out of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility on Tuesday morning, June 17 at 1:58 a.m. It arrived at Pad 17-B at 4:30 a.m. and was hoisted atop the Boeing
MER-B Delta II Heavy launch vehicle at 9:15 a.m. The spacecraft electrical umbilical connections were established last night. A spacecraft state of health check is under way today. The integrated vehicle/spacecraft Flight Program Verification test will follow on Thursday. This will demonstrate the ability of the spacecraft and the launch vehicle to work together during the terminal countdown and flight. The Simulated Flight Test of the Delta II vehicle has been successfully completed. Installation of the fairing around the spacecraft is scheduled to occur on Saturday, June 21. Fueling of the Delta second stage with its complement of storable hypergolic propellants is planned for Monday, June 23. The Flight Readiness Review (FRR) will be held on Saturday, June 21 in the Mission Briefing Room at KSC. Pending successful completion of this review, launch is scheduled for June 26. There are no significant issues or concerns at this time. (June 18, 2003 status report) |
|
Mating of the spacecraft to the upper stage booster, the Delta’s third stage, was completed on Thursday in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility
(PHSF). Today the spacecraft is being placed into its transportation canister in preparation for going to the launch pad. That is scheduled to occur before dawn on Tuesday, June 17. Meanwhile, at Pad 17-B, preparations are under way for the Simulated Flight test of the Delta II launch vehicle to occur sometime within the next few days. This is a test that activates the Delta’s mechanical and electrical systems during a simulated flight of the vehicle to verify how they will perform during ascent. A decision on the final launch date is expected on Monday after the test has been completed. The MER-B vehicle’s first stage is on Pad 17-B. Erection of the nine solid rocket boosters was completed May 22. The second stage was hoisted atop the first stage on May 29. Encapsulation of the spacecraft into the payload fairing atop the Delta II is currently planned for June 21. (June 13, 2003 status report) |
|
Fueling of MER-1 was completed on May 28. Spin balance testing began the next day on May 29 and was completed May 30. Mating to the Delta third stage (upper stage booster) took place on June 12. Transportation to the launch pad is scheduled for June 16. The MER-B vehicle’s first stage is on Pad 17-B. Erection of the nine solid rocket boosters was completed May 22. The second stage was hoisted atop the first stage on May 29. There are no issues or concerns at this time. (June 4, 2003 status report) |
|
Fueling of MER-1 began today and will be completed tomorrow May 28. Spin balance testing will begin the next day on May 29 and is to be followed by mating to the Delta third stage (upper stage booster) on June 14. Transportation to the launch pad is scheduled for June 15. The MER-B vehicle’s first stage is on Pad 17-B. Erecting the nine solid rocket boosters in sets of three a day was completed May 22. The second stage will be hoisted atop the first stage tomorrow, May 28. The MER-B launch period closes July 15. (May 27, 2003 status report) |
|
The MER-1 lander was mated to the cruise stage yesterday, May 20. Fueling of MER-1 is scheduled for May 27-28, spin balance testing on May 29, mating to the Delta third stage on June 14, and transportation to the launch pad for mating to the Delta on June 15. The MER-B vehicle’s first stage is on Pad 17-B. Erecting the nine solid rocket boosters in sets of three a day began yesterday, May 20. The second set of three is being erected today and the final set will be installed tomorrow, May 22. The second stage will be hoisted atop the first stage on May 28. The MER-B launch period closes July 15. (May 21, 2003 status report) |
|
On MER-1, rover installation onto the base petal and lander air bag installation were completed on May 9. The operation to install the backshell over the lander begins tonight and is scheduled to be complete on Friday. Full integration of the MER-1 entry vehicle (back shell, heat shield, lander and rover) is to be completed by May 21 and followed by mating the entry vehicle to the cruise stage. The MER-B vehicle’s first stage is on Pad 17-B and the solid rocket boosters will be erected May 19-24; the second stage will be hoisted atop the first stage on May 28. The MER-B launch window closes July 15. (May 14, 2003 status report) |
|
The reworked telecom support boards (TSB) have been installed on both MER landers. MER-2 lander integration was completed on Thursday, April 24. Integration of the MER-2 entry vehicle (back shell, heat shield, lander and rover assembly) has been completed. Last week the spacecraft had a weight and center of gravity determination followed by a dry-spin test. Fueling is planned for May 11 and will be followed by another spin test once fuel is aboard. On MER-1, rover installation onto the base petal has been completed and the lander’s air bag installation is scheduled for this week. The mission will have two launch opportunities each day during the launch period, which is scheduled to close on June 19. Arrival at Mars is set for Jan 4, 2003, regardless of the launch date within that period. On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, first stage was erected on Wednesday, April 23, for MER-A on Pad 17-A. Second stage erection was completed on Monday, April 28, and fairing on April 30. Simulated Flight and Engine Sequence is currently scheduled for May 9. The solid motor erection is scheduled for May 14-16. For MER-B on Pad 17-B, the solid rocket boosters will be erected May 19-24; the second stage will be hoisted atop the first stage on May 28. (May 5, 2003 status report) |
|
Good progress has been made in the circuit board rework and the reinstallation on the two Mars rovers. As a result, the launch of
MER-A can be moved up by one day on the recovery schedule. Launch is now scheduled for Thursday, June 5. The first reworked telecom support board (TSB) arrived and was installed on MER-2 on April 16. Rover equipment deck (RED) was reinstalled on April 17. MER-2 lander integration was completed on Thursday, April 24. Integration of MER-2 entry vehicle (back shell, heat shield, lander and rover assembly) scheduled to continue through next week. On MER-1, the telecom support board (TSB) was installed on April 18. MER-1 rover and lander base petal final assembly was completed on Thursday, April 24. Rover installation on base petal is in work and scheduled to be completed by the end of next week. Lander air bag scheduled for installation by the end of next week. The mission will have two launch opportunities each day during the launch period, which is scheduled to close on June 19. Arrival at Mars is set for Jan. 4, 2003, regardless of launch date within that period. On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, first stage and interstage were erected on Wednesday, April 23 for MER-A on Pad 17-A. Second stage erection is currently scheduled for Saturday, April 26 following with fairing installation on April 29. Simulated Flight and Engine Sequence is currently scheduled for May 9. The solid motor erection is scheduled for May 12-14. (April 25, 2003 status report) |
|
The beginning of the launch period for the first of NASA’s two Mars Exploration Rover missions will be rescheduled until no earlier than June 6 to allow time to address a potential problem raised during pre-launch tests of the spacecraft over the weekend. The concern regards cabling that connects the spacecraft’s main computer, which is inside the rover, to peripherals in the cruise stage, lander and small deep space transponder. The connection to the cruise stage is severed during approach to Mars and the connection to the lander is severed before the rover drives off. Pre-launch testing revealed a potential problem in how the spacecraft interprets signals sent when the cables are severed. The problem will require fixing on both rovers. The work is not expected to effect the launch period for the second rover mission which is scheduled to open June 25 and close July 15 for a landing Jan. 25, 2004. However, the second mission cannot launch until 10 days after the first one. The remedy will require some disassembly of the spacecraft at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Fla. The work cannot be done within the schedule of preparations for the original May 30 opening of the launch period. The mission will have two launch opportunities each day during the launch period, which is scheduled to close on June 19. Arrival at Mars is set for Jan. 4, 2003, regardless of launch date within that period. On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, first and second stage processing activities for the MER-A vehicle continues in Hangar AO and erection on Pad 17-A is planned to begin April 22. Erection of the vehicle for MER-B is planned to begin May 24. (April 14, 2003 status report) |
|
Yesterday on MER-1, the science boom was deployed, tested and retracted. On Monday, March 31 a functional test and mission simulation was performed that included deployment of the solar arrays, camera mast and
camera. A functional test of the camera was also performed. This test will be repeated on Friday, April 4. On MER-2, the solar arrays have been stowed for flight and the rover was installed on the base petal on March 28. Closeouts are now underway. Installation of the landing airbags will also occur on Friday, April 4. Processing of the cruise stage, lander and heat shield elements for both missions continues. 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 fully integrated payload will be transported to the launch pad for mating with their respective Boeing Delta II rockets. On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, first and second stage processing activities continue in launch vehicle hangars. A combined electrical system test is scheduled for Friday, April 4. 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 22. The Delta for the second launch on June 25 will begin its erection at Pad 17-B on May 1. (April 3, 2003 status report) |
|
On March 21, MER-1 was driven on a test pad that included navigating the rover over obstacles simulating Martian terrain. The camera also underwent functional testing. A functional test and mission simulation is scheduled for this weekend that includes deployment of the lander petals, the solar arrays, camera mast and camera. A second functional test and mission simulation for MER-2 was successfully completed last weekend and the rover will be stowed on the lander base petal late this week. Processing of the cruise stage, lander and heat shield elements for both missions continues. 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 22. The Boeing and NASA review to assess the engineering readiness of the Delta II for MER-A was completed on March 19 at the Boeing plant in Huntington Beach, Calif. The Delta for the second launch on June 25 will begin its erection at Pad 17-B on May 1. Boeing’s Delta II Heavy Design Certification Review for MER-B was completed on March 20. (March 26, 2003 status report) |
|
Final build-up of the two rovers is going well. A second functional test and mission simulation for MER-2 is scheduled to occur beginning tomorrow and last through the weekend. The initial functional test and mission simulation for MER-1 is planned for the last week of March. Processing of the cruise stage, lander and heat shield elements continues. The flight battery installation is complete. 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 Boeing and NASA review to assess readiness of the vehicle and the launch pad for the MER-A mission is underway today at the Boeing plant in Huntington Beach, Calif. The Delta for the second launch on June 25 will begin its erection at Pad 17-B on May 1. Boeing’s Delta II Heavy Design Certification Review for MER-B is scheduled for tomorrow, March 20. (March 19, 2003 status report) |
|
At
Kennedy Space Center, the second of the two Mars Exploration
Rovers, MER-1, arrived on Tuesday, March 11 and has begun
its prelaunch testing in the Payload Hazardous Servicing
Facility (PHSF). A functional test of the MER-2 rover systems
was conducted on Mar. 6 and Mar. 9 and included deployment
of the lander petals, the rover's solar arrays, camera mast
and camera. The camera also took test images. A similar
test for MER-1 is scheduled to occur late next week.
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. (March 13, 2003 status report) |
|
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. (March 5, 2003 status report) |
|
The first of two Mars Exploration Rovers, MER-2, arrived at the Kennedy Space Center on Monday from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. The cruise stage, aeroshell and lander for the Mars Exploration Rover-1 mission also arrived with it. This same flight hardware for the MER-2 rover arrived Jan. 27. However, this rover is scheduled to arrive at KSC around March 10. The Boeing Delta II vehicle for the first of the two launches, scheduled on May 30, is planned for erection on the pad at Space Launch Complex 17 beginning April 18. The Delta for the second launch on June 25 will begin erection activities on May 1. While at KSC, each of the two rovers, the aeroshells and the landers will undergo a full mission simulation. All of these flight elements will then be integrated together. After spin balance testing, each spacecraft will be mated to a solid propellant upper stage booster that will propel the spacecraft out of Earth orbit. Approximately ten days before launch, they will be transported to the launch pad for mating with their respective Boeing Delta II rockets. The rovers will serve as robotic geologists to seek answers about the evolution of Mars, particularly for a history of water. (February 28, 2003 status report) |
| The cruise stage, aeroshell and lander for the MER-2 mission arrived at the KSC Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) on Monday, Jan. 27. The identical flight hardware for MER-1 and the first of the two Mars Exploration rovers will arrive at KSC on Monday, Feb. 24. The second rover will arrive the second week of March. (February 19, 2003 status report) |
| The cruise stage, aeroshell and lander for the MER-2 mission arrived at the KSC Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) on Monday, Jan. 27. The lander, aeroshell and cruise stage were then removed from the shipping container to begin processing. The identical MER-1 flight hardware will arrive at the PHSF on Feb. 17. The two Mars Exploration rovers arrive at KSC in late February and early March. (February 12, 2003 status report) |
| The cruise stage, aeroshell and lander for the MER-2 mission arrived at the KSC Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27. The lander was unpacked, cleaned and placed in the high bay on Tuesday. The aeroshell and cruise stage were removed from the shipping container today. The identical MER-1 flight hardware will arrive in mid-February. The first of the two Mars Exploration rovers will arrive at KSC in late February and early March. (February 5, 2003 status report) |
| The cruise stage, aeroshell and lander for the MER-2 mission arrived at the KSC Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27. The lander was unpacked, cleaned and placed in the high bay on Tuesday. The aeroshell and cruise stage were removed from the shipping container today. The first of the two Mars Exploration rovers will arrive at KSC in February. (January 29, 2003 status report) |
|
Page Last Revised |
Page & Curator Information |
07/10/2003 |
Curator:
Kay Grinter (kay.grinter-1@ksc.nasa.gov) /
InDyne, Inc. |