SPACECRAFT AND EXPENDABLE VEHICLES STATUS REPORTJune 13, 2003 George
H. Diller Kennedy
Space Center 321/867-2468
MISSION: Mars
Exploration Rover (MER-A) LAUNCH VEHICLES: Delta II LAUNCH PAD: 17-A LAUNCH DATE: June
10, 2003 The
MER-A Delta II launch vehicle carrying the “Spirit” Mars Exploration Rover was
launched successfully from Pad 17-A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on
Tuesday, June 10. The official
liftoff time was 1:58:46.773 p.m. EDT.
Communication with the spacecraft through the Deep Space Network
indicates that the spacecraft is in good health and on the proper
trajectory. There are no issues or
concerns with the mission at this time. MISSION: Mars
Exploration Rover (MER-B/Opportunity) LAUNCH VEHICLE: Delta II Heavy
LAUNCH PAD: 17-B LAUNCH DATE:
June 25, 2003 NET
LAUNCH TIME: 12:38:16
a.m. / 1:19:19 a.m. EDT Mating of
the spacecraft to the upper stage booster, the Delta’s third stage, was
completed on Thursday in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF). Today the spacecraft is being placed
into its transportation canister in preparation for going to the launch
pad. That is scheduled to occur
before dawn on Tuesday, June 17. Meanwhile,
at Pad 17-B, preparations are under way for the Simulated Flight test of the
Delta II launch vehicle to occur sometime within the next few days. This is a test that activates the
Delta’s mechanical and electrical systems during a simulated flight of the
vehicle to verify how they will perform during ascent. A decision on the final launch date is
expected on Monday after the test has been completed. The MER-B
vehicle’s first stage is on Pad 17-B.
Erection of the nine solid rocket boosters was completed May 22. The
second stage was hoisted atop the first stage on May 29. Encapsulation of the spacecraft
into the payload fairing atop the Delta II is currently planned for June 21. MISSION: SCISAT-1/Atmospheric
Chemistry Experiment LAUNCH VEHICLE: Pegasus XL LAUNCH FACILITY: Vandenberg Air
Force Base, California LAUNCH DATE: August
2, 2003 LAUNCH TIME: 9:03:05
p.m. – 10:00:14 p.m. PDT The SCISAT
spacecraft is completing final testing at the Canadian Space Agency’s David
Florida Laboratories. Arrival of
the spacecraft at Vandenberg Air Force Base is currently scheduled for June 25. The first
Flight Simulation is scheduled for June 10-11 and will be followed by mating
the stages together June 11-17.
The second Flight Simulation is planned for June 25-26. SCISAT-1
weighs approximately 330 pounds and will be placed in a 400-mile-high polar
orbit to investigate processes that control the distribution of ozone in the
upper atmosphere. Meanwhile,
the Pegasus XL rocket is undergoing prelaunch preparations at Vandenberg Air
Force Base in California by Orbital Sciences Corporation. The
scientific mission of SCISAT-1/ACE (Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment) mission
is to measure and understand the chemical processes that control the
distribution of ozone in the Earth’s atmosphere, particularly at high
altitudes. The data from the
satellite will provide Canadian and international scientists with improved measurements
relating to global ozone processes and help policy-makers assess existing
environmental policy and develop protective measures for improving the health
of our atmosphere, preventing further zone depletion. The mission is designed to last two years. MISSION: Space
Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) LAUNCH VEHICLE: Delta II
Heavy LAUNCH PAD: 17-B, Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station LAUNCH DATE: August 23, 2003 LAUNCH TIME: TBD The SIRTF
observatory is in NASA’s class 10,000 laminar flow clean room at spacecraft Hangar
AE awaiting its return to the launch pad in early August. The launch
date has been moved forward four days to August 23. Project
management of SIRTF for NASA is by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The observatory was built for NASA by
Lockheed Martin and Ball Aerospace.
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