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NOAA-M Processing Notes |
| The launch of the NOAA-M Polar Orbiter from NASA’s Space Launch Complex 4 West occurred successfully on Tuesday, June 24. Liftoff of the USAF Titan II occurred at 11:23:03.538 a.m. (PDT). Spacecraft separation occurred at 11:29:35 a.m. (PDT), inserting the spacecraft into a near-polar Sun-synchronous orbit 450 nautical miles above the Earth. (June 27, 2002 status report) |
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The Titan II/G-14 prelaunch preparations continue to progress on schedule. At SLC-4W, the launch vehicle was loaded with its complement of fuel and oxidizer propellants on Tuesday, June 18. Two major NASA pre-launch reviews remain. They are the Flight Readiness Review on June 20 and the Launch Readiness Review on June 23. The Air Force will also hold a Launch Readiness Review on June 21. Last Friday, June 14, the launch vehicle Integrated Systems Test (IST) was successfully completed. Like the Combined Systems Test (CST) conducted May 22, this involved both a simulated minus count and plus count, however, the spacecraft was also part of this exercise, electrically testing the vehicle/spacecraft combination during the countdown and the in-flight events. The encapsulation of the NOAA-M spacecraft into the payload fairing was completed on June 10. A Mission Dress Rehearsal for the launch team was conducted June 12. (June 19, 2002 status report) |
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The Titan II/G-14 prelaunch preparations continue to progress on schedule. At SLC-4W, atop the Titan II, encapsulation of the NOAA-M spacecraft into the payload fairing is currently underway and scheduled to be completed on Thursday, June 13. On Friday, June 14, the launch vehicle Integrated Systems Test (IST) is scheduled to be performed. Like the Combined Systems Test (CST) conducted May 22, this involves both a simulated minus count and plus count, however, the spacecraft is also part of this exercise, electrically testing the vehicle/spacecraft combination during the countdown and the in-flight events. (June 12, 2002 status report) |
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At SLC-4W, the Titan II/G-14 prelaunch preparations continue to progress smoothly. The spacecraft was transported to the pad late on May 29 and mated to the Titan II launch vehicle in the early morning hours of May 30. The spacecraft was powered on and successfully tested on June 1. The spacecraft is scheduled to have its control fuel loaded aboard this week and will be followed by loading the launch vehicle Attitude Control System
(ACS) hydrazine. The payload fairing will be installed around NOAA-M on Friday, June 7. An Integrated Systems Test (IST) involving both the spacecraft and the launch vehicle is scheduled for June 14. The Combined Systems Test (CST) was successfully completed on May 22. This was a vehicle system test that included a simulated countdown as well as a plus count, electrically testing in-flight events of the Titan II vehicle. (June 5, 2002 status report) |
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At SLC-4W, the Titan II/G-14 prelaunch preparations continue to progress smoothly. The Combined Systems Test is under way today. The NOAA-M spacecraft processing has been completed, and the satellite will be installed into its payload canister tomorrow in preparation for being moved to Space Launch Complex 4 West. The spacecraft will be erected top the Titan II on May 30. Work to install the payload fairing around the satellite atop the rocket will begin on June 8 and be complete on June 13. (May 22, 2002 status report) |
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At
SLC-4W, the Titan II/G-14 prelaunch preparations continue to progress on
schedule. This week the Combined Systems Engine Leak Checks are in work
on the first stage and gas generator servicing and verification testing
is underway on the second stage. The technical concern with the
vehicle's Inertial Measurement Unit has been resolved and work on the
vehicle will continue as planned. The NOAA-M spacecraft arrived at VAFB on Apr. 25 and is at NASA Spacecraft Hangar 1610 on North Vandenberg. The spacecraft's apogee kick motor was installed on Apr. 30. The Spacecraft Electrical Performance and Evaluation Test (SEPET) successfully completed on Wednesday, May 8. Spacecraft processing will be completed this Friday, May 17 and the satellite will be installed into its payload canister on Monday in preparation for being moved to Space Launch Complex 4 West. The spacecraft will be erected top the Titan II on May 30. The fairing for NOAA-M arrived on May 9 to begin processing at an Air Force facility also located on North Vandenberg. The Center Director Launch Vehicle Launch Readiness Review is being held today with KSC Center Director Roy Bridges. (May 15, 2002 status report) |
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At
SLC-4W, the Titan II/G-14 prelaunch preparations continue to progress on
schedule. This week the Combined Systems Engine Leak Checks are in work
on the first stage and gas generator servicing and verification testing
is underway on the second stage. A technical concern with the vehicle's
Inertial Measurement Unit remains under evaluation but it is not clear
at this time as to whether there could be any schedule impact. The NOAA-M spacecraft arrived at VAFB on Apr. 25 and is at NASA Spacecraft Hangar 1610 on North Vandenberg. The spacecraft's apogee kick motor was installed on Apr. 30. The Spacecraft Electrical Performance and Evaluation Test (SEPET) successfully completed on Wednesday, May 8. The fairing for NOAA-M is scheduled to arrive today to begin processing at an Air Force facility also located on North Vandenberg. (May 9, 2002 status report) |
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At
SLC-4W, the Titan II/G-14 launch vehicle's prelaunch preparations
continue and work is progressing on schedule. An issue with the
vehicle's Inertial Measurement Unit is currently under evaluation. What
impact to the schedule there could be, if any, is under assessment. The NOAA-M spacecraft arrived at VAFB as planned on Apr. 25 and was taken to NASA Spacecraft Hangar 1610 on North Vandenberg. The spacecraft's apogee kick motor was installed on Apr. 30. Today spacecraft battery charging and other preparations are underway for the upcoming Spacecraft Electrical Performance and Evaluation Test (SEPET). The payload fairing is scheduled to arrive for processing tomorrow, Thursday, May 2. (May 1, 2002 status report) |
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At
SLC-4W, the Titan II/G-14 launch vehicle's initial "power-on"
test was conducted on Tuesday, April 9 and routine vehicle checkout and
prelaunch preparations continue on schedule. The booster was erected on
the launch pad Apr. 1. The NOAA-M spacecraft is at the Lockheed Martin plant in Sunnyvale, Calif. and is planned for shipment to Vandenberg on Thursday, Apr. 25. It will be prepared for launch at a NASA spacecraft processing facility on North Vandenberg Air Force Base. The spacecraft's apogee kick motor processing activities were successfully performed Apr. 16 - 18. The payload fairing is scheduled to arrive on May 9. (April 24, 2002 status report) |
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At
SLC-4W, the Titan II/G-14 launch vehicle's initial "power-on"
test was conducted on Tuesday, April 9. The booster was erected on the
launch pad Monday, Apr. 1. The NOAA-M apogee kick motor and the spacecraft ground support and test equipment also arrived on Tuesday, Apr. 9. The NOAA-M spacecraft is at the Lockheed Martin plant in Sunnyvale, Calif. and is planned for shipment to Vandenberg on Apr. 25. It will be processed at NASA spacecraft hangar 1610 located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base. (April 17, 2002 status report) |
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At
SLC-4W, the Titan II/G-14 launch vehicle's initial "power-on"
test was conducted on Tuesday, April 9. The booster was erected on the
launch pad Monday, April 1. The NOAA-M apogee kick motor and the spacecraft ground support and test equipment also arrived on Tuesday, April 9. The NOAA-M spacecraft is at the Lockheed Martin plant in Sunnyvale, Calif. and is planned for shipment to Vandenberg on April 25. It will be processed at NASA spacecraft hangar 1610 located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base. (April 10, 2002 status report) |
| The
Titan II/G-14 booster for NOAA-M was transported
to SLC-4 West on Saturday, March 30 and erected on
the launch pad Monday, April 1. The NOAA-M spacecraft is at the Lockheed Martin plant in Sunnyvale, Calif. and is planned for shipment to Vandenberg on April 25. It will be processed at NASA spacecraft hangar 1610 located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base. The apogee kick motor for NOAA-M is scheduled to arrive on April 8 and the spacecraft's ground support equipment will arrive the following day. (April 3, 2002 status report) |
| The
Titan II/G-14 booster for NOAA-M will be
transported to SLC-4 West on Saturday, Mar. 30 and
erected on the launch pad Monday, Apr. 1. Routine
corrosion control and maintenance was completed at
the launch pad this week as planned. The NOAA-M spacecraft is at the Lockheed Martin plant in Sunnyvale, Calif. and is tentatively planned for shipment to Vandenberg on Apr. 25. The spacecraft will be processed at NASA spacecraft hangar 1610 on North Vandenberg Air Force Base. (March 27, 2002 status report) |
| No
change in status this week. The NOAA-M spacecraft
is at the Lockheed Martin plant in Sunnyvale,
Calif., and is tentatively planned for shipment to
Vandenberg on April 25. The spacecraft will be
processed at NASA spacecraft hangar 1610 on North
Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Erection of the Titan II/G-14 booster for NOAA-M will take place on April 1 after routine corrosion control and maintenance is completed at the launch pad during March. (March 20, 2002 status report) |
| No
change in status this week. The NOAA-M spacecraft
is at the Lockheed Martin plant in Sunnyvale,
Calif. and is tentatively planned for shipment to
Vandenberg on Apr. 26. The spacecraft will be
processed at NASA spacecraft hangar 1610 on North
Vandenberg Air Force Base. Erection of the Titan II/G-14 booster for NOAA-M will take place on April 1 after routine corrosion control and maintenance is completed at the launch pad during March. (March 13, 2002 status report) |
| The
NOAA-M spacecraft is at the Lockheed Martin plant
in Sunnyvale, Calif., and is tentatively planned
for shipment to Vandenberg on April 26. The
spacecraft will be processed at NASA spacecraft
hangar 1610 on North Vandenberg Air Force Base. Erection of the Titan II/G-14 booster for NOAA-M will take place on April 1 after routine corrosion control and maintenance is completed at the launch pad during March. (March 6, 2002 status report) |
| The
NOAA-M spacecraft is at the Lockheed Martin plant
in Sunnyvale, Calif. and is now tentatively
planned for shipment to Vandenberg on April 26.
The spacecraft will be processed at NASA
spacecraft hangar 1610 on North Vandenberg Air
Force Base. Erection of the Titan II/G-14 booster for NOAA-M will take place in late March after routine corrosion control and maintenance is completed at the launch pad, currently anticipated to be finished by April 1. (February 27, 2002 status report) |
| The
NOAA-M spacecraft is at the Lockheed Martin plant
in Sunnyvale, Calif. A shipping date for the
satellite and the erection of the Titan II launch
vehicle on SLC-4W at Vandenberg Air Force Base
will be determined after the launch of the U.S.
Air Force DMSP weather satellite that is pending. The spacecraft will be processed at NASA spacecraft hangar 1610 on North Vandenberg Air Force Base. (February 20, 2002 status report) |
| The
NOAA-M spacecraft is at the Lockheed Martin plant
in Sunnyvale, Calif. A shipping date for the
satellite and the erection of the Titan II launch
vehicle on SLC-2W at Vandenberg Air Force Base
will be determined after the launch of the U.S.
Air Force DMSP weather satellite that is pending. The spacecraft will be processed at NASA spacecraft hangar 1610 on North Vandenberg Air Force Base. (February 13, 2002 status report) |
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Page Last Revised |
Page & Curator Information |
07/03/2002 |
Curator:
Kay Grinter (kay.grinter-1@ksc.nasa.gov) /
InDyne, Inc. |