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ProSEDS Processing Notes |
| Update: A decision has been made to remove ProSEDS from the current launch opportunity slated for March 29, 2003. An evaluation as to whether ProSEDS can be flown on a future opportunity is being explored. This will help assure full mission success of ProSEDS and the primary payload. (February 28, 2003 status report) |
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The erection of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on Pad 17-A was completed late last week and testing is currently under way. ProSEDS is flying as a secondary payload on the Delta II beneath a U.S. Air Force Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite. Once the spacecraft arrives on Saturday, March 1, it will be processed in the Vertical Processing Facility (VPF) located in the KSC Industrial Area. While there, the final spacecraft component integration will occur, a complete functional test will be performed, and the spacecraft batteries will be charged for the mission. On March 17, ProSEDS will be transported to the launch pad and attached to the Delta II near the top of the second stage. This will be followed by electrical connections and a second spacecraft functional test. At this time, a review is under way to assess whether ProSEDS should be flown on the GPS 2R-9 launch opportunity. The Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System - called ProSEDS - is a tether-based propulsion experiment that draws power from the space environment around Earth, allowing the transfer of energy from the Earth to the spacecraft. Inexpensive and reusable, ProSEDS technology has the potential to turn orbiting, in-space tethers into “space tugboats” - replacing heavy, costly, traditional chemical propulsion and enabling a variety of space-based missions, such as the fuel-free raising and lowering of satellite orbits. (February 27, 2003 status report) |
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The erection of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on Pad 17-A was scheduled to begin Feb. 13. Erection of the nine solid rocket boosters was scheduled for Feb. 14-18. The second stage is planned for hoisting atop the first stage on Feb. 19. ProSEDS is flying as a secondary payload on the Delta II beneath a U.S. Air Force Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite. Once the spacecraft arrives on Feb. 27, it will be processed in the Vertical Processing Facility (VPF) located in the KSC Industrial Area. On March 17, ProSEDS will be transported to the launch pad and attached to the Delta II near the top of the second stage. This will be followed by electrical connections and a spacecraft functional test. The Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System - called ProSEDS - is a tether-based propulsion experiment that draws power from the space environment around Earth, allowing the transfer of energy from the Earth to the spacecraft. Inexpensive and reusable, ProSEDS technology has the potential to turn orbiting, in-space tethers into "space tugboats" - replacing heavy, costly, traditional chemical propulsion and enabling a variety of space-based missions, such as the fuel-free raising and lowering of satellite orbits. (February 19, 2003 status report) |
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The Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System - called ProSEDS - is a tether-based propulsion experiment that draws power from the space environment around Earth, allowing the transfer of energy from the Earth to the spacecraft. Inexpensive and reusable, ProSEDS technology has the potential to turn orbiting, in-space tethers into "space tugboats" - replacing heavy, costly, traditional chemical propulsion and enabling a variety of space-based missions, such as the fuel-free raising and lowering of satellite orbits. The erection of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on Pad 17-A is currently scheduled to begin Feb. 13. Erection of the nine solid rocket boosters is scheduled for Feb. 14-18. The second stage is planned for hoisting atop the first stage on Feb. 19. Once the spacecraft arrives on Feb. 27, it will be processed in the Vertical Processing Facility (VPF) control room located in the KSC Industrial Area. On March 17, ProSEDS will be transported to the launch pad and attached to the Delta II near the top of the second stage. This will be followed by electrical connections and a spacecraft functional test. ProSEDS is flying as a secondary payload beneath a U.S. Air Force Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite. (February 12, 2003 status report) |
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The Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System - called ProSEDS - is a tether-based propulsion experiment that draws power from the space environment around Earth, allowing the transfer of energy from the Earth to the spacecraft. Inexpensive and reusable, ProSeds technology has the potential to turn orbiting, in-space tethers into “space tugboats” - replacing heavy, costly, traditional chemical propulsion and enabling a variety of space-based missions, such as the fuel-free raising and lowering of satellite orbits. The erection of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on Pad 17-A is currently scheduled to begin Feb. 13. Erection of the nine solid rocket boosters is scheduled for Feb. 14-18. The second stage is planned for hoisting atop the first stage on Feb. 19. ProSEDS personnel are installing data and electrical harnesses on the Delta second stage this week. The flight hardware is planned to arrive at KSC Feb. 27. ProSEDS is flying as a secondary payload beneath a U.S. Air Force Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite. Once the spacecraft arrives, it will be processed at the Vertical Processing Facility (VPF) located in the KSC Industrial Area. March 17, ProSeds will be attached to the Delta at the launch pad near the top of the second stage and will be followed by electrical connections and a spacecraft functional test. (February 5, 2003 status report) |
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The Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System - called ProSEDS - is a tether-based propulsion experiment that draws power from the space environment around Earth, allowing the transfer of energy from the Earth to the spacecraft. Inexpensive and reusable, ProSeds technology has the potential to turn orbiting, in-space tethers into “space tugboats - replacing heavy, costly, traditional chemical propulsion and enabling a variety of space-based missions, such as the fuel-free raising and lowering of satellite orbits. The erection of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on Pad 17-A is currently scheduled to begin on Feb. 13. Erection of the nine solid rocket boosters is scheduled for Feb. 14-18. The second stage is planned for hoisting atop the first stage on Feb. 19. ProSEDS is flying as a secondary payload beneath a U.S. Air Force Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite. Once the spacecraft arrives, it will be processed at the Vertical Processing Facility (VPF) located in the KSC Industrial Area. ProSeds will be attached to the Delta second stage at the launch pad on March 17 and followed by electrical connections and a spacecraft functional test. (January 29, 2003 status report) |
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Page Last Revised |
Page & Curator Information |
03/26/2003 |
Curator:
Kay Grinter (kay.grinter-1@ksc.nasa.gov) /
InDyne, Inc. |