Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

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Nov. 18, 2008

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@nasa.gov

STATUS REPORT: ELV-111808

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Mission: Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) 
Launch Vehicle: Taurus XL (Orbital Sciences) 
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 756-E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, 
Calif. 
Launch Date: NET Jan. 15, 2009 
Launch Window: TBD 

The Orbiting Carbon Observatory arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base 
on Nov. 11. It was shipped from spacecraft facilities in Dulles, Va., 
by Orbital Sciences, builder of the spacecraft. The following day it 
was removed from its shipping container and placed on a test stand at 
the Astrotech payload processing facility located on north 
Vandenberg. On Nov. 13, the protective coverings over the spacecraft 
were removed so that processing could begin.

Processing of the Taurus launch vehicle is under way by Orbital 
Sciences in Hangar 1555 on north Vandenberg. Installation of the UHF 
communications antenna occurred this week. Telemetry testing is 
scheduled for next week. Thermal protection system insulation and 
electrical work is also under way on "Stage 0." Preparations are also 
under way at the launch pad to prepare it to receive Stage 0 next 
month.

Some additional tests need to be performed on the electronics control 
unit (ECU) on the first stage. These additional tests are deemed 
necessary for the vehicle to be fully flight qualified. It is not 
clear yet how much time this will take, but it is expected to affect 
the planned launch date of mid-January. Coordination with the Western 
Range will also be necessary to determine the earliest launch date 
available.



Mission: NOAA-N Prime 
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320 
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 2, Vandenberg AFB 
Launch Date: February 4, 2009 
Launch Time: 2:22:01 - 2:32:01 a.m. PST 

The NOAA-N Prime spacecraft arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base on 
Nov. 4 aboard a C-5 aircraft. It was taken to NASA payload processing 
facility 1610 located on north Vandenberg. The following day the 
spacecraft was removed from its shipping container. On Nov. 6, the 
spacecraft was rotated from horizontal to vertical and mated to the 
payload attach fitting associated with the Delta II. The spacecraft 
was powered on by Lockheed Martin for the first time on Nov. 13 to 
begin electrical testing. Spacecraft communications system tests are 
now under way.

The Delta II arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base on Nov. 13. Work by 
United Launch Alliance to erect the rocket at Space Launch Complex 2 
is scheduled to begin Dec. 3. 

Previous status reports are available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/index.html 
 

	
-end-



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