SPACECRAFT AND EXPENDABLE VEHICLES STATUS REPORT
October 30, 2002
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
321/867-2468
MISSION: Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-J (TDRS-J)
LAUNCH VEHICLE: Lockheed Martin Atlas IIA (AC-144)
LAUNCH SITE: Pad 36-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
LAUNCH DATE: November 20, 2002
LAUNCH WINDOW: 10:36 p.m. - 11:16 p.m. EST
The TDRS-J spacecraft is at the Spacecraft Assembly and
Encapsulation Facility-2 in the KSC Industrial Area undergoing electrical
testing. Loading of the fuel and oxidizer also scheduled to occur this week
has been postponed to no earlier than next week. Additional testing of the
TDRS-J single access antenna may be necessary based on the checkout that is
currently under way on TDRS-I currently on orbit.
At Pad A on Launch Complex 36, the Simulated Flight (SimFlight)
test was successful on Oct. 25. This is an electrical test of the vehicle
systems during simulated powered flight from launch through spacecraft
separation. Upcoming will be the vehicle's Wet Dress Rehearsal on Nov. 6, a
countdown with the vehicle fully fueled with liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen
and RP-1 propellants. The final test will be the Composite Electrical
Readiness Test (CERT) which occurs after TDRS-J has been mated to the launch
vehicle. This will verify that the vehicle and spacecraft are operating on
an integrated basis.
NASA is using the 23rd and final Atlas IIA model launch vehicle in
the Lockheed Martin inventory for TDRS-J.
MISSION: Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE)
LAUNCH VEHICLE: Pegasus XL
LAUNCH LOCATION: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
LAUNCH DATE: December 13, 2002 NET
LAUNCH WINDOW: 3:09 p.m. - 4:09 p.m. EST T-0: 3:14 P.M. EST.
SORCE, built by the Orbital Sciences Space Systems Group, arrived
at the Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Oct. 26 and is undergoing prelaunch
testing at the Multipurpose Payload Processing Facility located in the KSC
Industrial Area. Charging of the flight batteries was completed yesterday.
A Limited Performance Test, an electrical test of the spacecraft lasting 16
hours, is under way today. A solar array lighting test is scheduled for
Nov. 5. There are no spacecraft issues or concerns.
The SORCE project is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight
Center. The instruments on the SORCE spacecraft are built by the Laboratory
for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP).
The silicon seal associated with the interface between the Pegasus
rocket and its wing has been replaced with a new seal and will be rebonded
with fresh adhesive.
The Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL launch vehicle completed its
buildup and testing on Oct. 11 at Vandenberg Air Force Base. The mating of
the three stages was completed Oct. 15. Two Flight Simulation tests were
performed. Flight Simulation No. 1 was successfully completed on Oct. 11
and Flight Simulation No. 2 was completed on Oct. 17.
The ferry to KSC using the Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft is
scheduled for Nov. 9. Three Flight Simulation tests are planned at KSC prior
to launch. NASA is targeting a launch date of Dec. 13 subject to the
availability of the Eastern Range.
MISSION: Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESAT) and the Cosmic
Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer (CHIPSAT)
LAUNCH VEHICLE: Delta II w/Dual Payload Attach Fixture (DPAF)
LAUNCH SITE: SLC-2W Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB)
LAUNCH DATE: December 19, 2002 NET
LAUNCH WINDOW: 4:09:32 - 5:32:00 p.m. PST
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.
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