SPACECRAFT AND EXPENDABLE VEHICLES STATUS REPORT
March 5, 2003
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
321/867-2468
MISSION: Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX)
LAUNCH VEHICLE: Pegasus XL
LAUNCH PAD: Skid Strip, Canaveral Air Force Station
LAUNCH DATE: March 25, 2003 (Under Review)
LAUNCH WINDOW: 6:50 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. EST (Drop time 7:00 a.m.)
Based on results of tests performed on the GALEX spacecraft on Mar.
4, it has been determined that additional inspection of electrical
connectors on the spacecraft is required that will require additional time
for processing in the Multi-purpose Payload Processing Facility (MPPF). A
documentation review of the thrust vector control system on the Pegasus
third stage will also be undertaken during this time. The launch is being
rescheduled to no earlier than Apr. 2, 2003 pending availability of the
Eastern Range.
Once the GALEX spacecraft is mated to the Pegasus late next week
and the mechanical and electrical connections have been established, an
Interface Verification Test will be performed.
The Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft with the Pegasus
launch vehicle arrived at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station from Vandenberg
Air Force Base, Calif. on Feb. 18. In the MPPF, Flight Simulation No. 3 was
successfully completed on March 3. The payload attach fitting is being
installed today.
GALEX will be transported to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Mar. 21 for
mating to the Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier aircraft.
The GALEX program management is by NASA's Goddard Space Flight
Center and is part of Goddard's Small Explorer (SMEX) program. Spacecraft
project management is the responsibility of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
and the California Institute of Technology is the lead for mission science.
MISSION: Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF)
LAUNCH VEHICLE: Delta II Heavy
LAUNCH PAD: 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
LAUNCH DATE: April 15, 2003
LAUNCH TIME: 4:34:07 a.m. EDT
The SIRTF spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at Kennedy Space
Center on Thursday, Mar. 6. It is being shipped from the Lockheed Martin
plant at Sunnyvale, Calif. It will be processed at NASA Spacecraft Hangar
AE on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The erection of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on Pad 17-B
began on Monday, Feb. 24 with the erection of the first stage. Erection of
the nine solid rocket boosters is underway this week. The second stage is
planned for hoisting atop the first stage on March 12.
The Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) will obtain images
and spectra by detecting the infrared energy, or heat, radiated by objects
in space. Most of this infrared radiation is blocked by the Earth's
atmosphere and cannot be observed from the ground.
Consisting of a telescope and three cryogenically cooled science
instruments, SIRTF is one of NASA's largest infrared telescopes to be
launched. Its highly sensitive instruments will give us a unique view of
the Universe and allow us to peer into regions of space that are hidden from
optical telescopes on the ground or orbiting telescopes such as the Hubble
Space Telescope. Many areas of space are filled with vast, dense clouds of
gas and dust that block our view. Infrared light can penetrate these
clouds, allowing us to peer into regions of star formation, the centers of
galaxies, and into newly forming planetary systems.
Infrared also brings us information about the cooler objects in
space, such as smaller stars that are too dim to be detected by their
visible light, extra solar planets, and giant molecular clouds. Also, many
molecules in space, including organic molecules, have their unique
signatures in the infrared.
MISSION: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER-1/MER-2)
LAUNCH VEHICLES: Delta II/Delta II Heavy
LAUNCH PADS: 17-A/17-B
LAUNCH DATES: May 30/June 25
LAUNCH TIMES: 2:28 p.m. / 12:34 a.m. EDT
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 Mar. 6 and Mar. 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.
MISSION: Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System (ProSEDS)
LAUNCH VEHICLE: Delta II
LAUNCH PAD: 17-A
LAUNCH DATE: Indefinite
A decision has been made to remove ProSeds from the current launch
opportunity slated for Mar. 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.
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