SPACECRAFT AND EXPENDABLE VEHICLES STATUS REPORT
April 14, 2003
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
321/867-2468
MISSION: Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF)
LAUNCH VEHICLE: Delta II Heavy
LAUNCH PAD: 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
LAUNCH DATE: April 27, 2003
LAUNCH TIME: 4:25:01 a.m. EDT
It has been determined that additional time is needed to complete
launch readiness evaluations for the Delta II launch vehicle prior to
holding the Flight Readiness Review. Therefore, the launch of SIRTF is
being rescheduled to occur on April 27, 2003, at 4:25:01 a.m. EDT.
On April 10 at Pad 17-B, the Delta II payload fairing was installed
around the SIRTF spacecraft. Servicing of the observatory with cryogenic
helium will begin next week.
SIRTF was transported from Hangar AE to launch pad 17-B and mated
to the Boeing Delta II rocket on Saturday, April 5. An interface
verification test to assure that electrical and mechanical connections have
been properly established was successfully completed on Sunday, April 6.
This was followed by a successful spacecraft state of health check.
A flight simulation to test the vehicle's systems that will
operate during powered flight was completed April 3. An RP-1 leak check of
the first stage that involves loading of the highly refined kerosene fuel
was completed April 4.
The Flight Program Verification, an integrated test of the vehicle and the
spacecraft that is the final major test before launch, was successfully
completed April 7.
Project management of SIRTF for NASA is by the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory. The observatory is built by Lockheed Martin and Ball Aerospace.
MISSION: Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX)
LAUNCH VEHICLE: Pegasus XL
LAUNCH PAD: Skid Strip, Canaveral Air Force Station
LAUNCH DATE: TBD
LAUNCH WINDOW: TBD
Processing of GALEX began its conclusion with the encapsulation of
the GALEX spacecraft on Sunday, April 13, with the starboard fairing. The
activity finished today with installation of the port fairing.
Because SIRTF will now take the GALEX launch opportunity, a new
launch date for GALEX has not been identified. However, it is expected to
be approximately one week after the launch of SIRTF.
GALEX was re-mated to the Pegasus on Monday, April 7, followed by
a flight simulation on Wednesday, April 9. The GALEX/Pegasus will be
transported to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and mated to the L-1011
about four days before launch. An integrated test, the Combined Systems Test
(CST), will follow.
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: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER-1/MER-2)
LAUNCH VEHICLES: Delta II/Delta II Heavy
LAUNCH PADS: 17-A/17-B
LAUNCH DATES: June 6/June 25
LAUNCH TIMES: 2:12:44 p.m. / 12:38:16 a.m. EDT
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.
# # #
-------------------------------------------------------------
For automatic email subscriptions to this KSC originated press releases, send an Internet electronic mail message to mailto:ksc-news_release-subscribe@kscnews.ksc.nasa.gov. With no subject or message. The system will reply with a confirmation via e-mail of each subscription.
To remove your name from the list at any time, send an email addressed to mailto:ksc-news_release-unsubscribe@kscnews.ksc.nasa.gov . With no subject or message.
or you can (un)subscribe on the World Wide Web at: http://kscnews.ksc.nasa.gov/
Status reports and other NASA publications are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/kscpao.htm .
