April 10, 2009 George H. Diller Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 george.h.diller@nasa.gov STATUS REPORT: ELV-041009 EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT Mission: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-O) Launch Vehicle: Delta IV Launch Pad: Launch Complex 37, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Launch Date: No earlier than May 12, 2009 Launch Window: TBD At Launch Complex 37, the Delta IV "wet dress rehearsal," a countdown dress rehearsal with the rocket fully fueled, was conducted on April 8. While the test completed the majority of its objectives successfully, a liquid oxygen leak was detected in the first stage, possibly in the fill and drain valve. The testing of the second stage was completed without issues. The hydrogen portion of the first stage testing was also completed successfully. The United Launch Alliance team has begun the process to isolate and repair the first stage liquid oxygen leak. Another tanking test will be performed before the GOES-O spacecraft is transported to the launch pad. At the Astrotech Space Operations Facility, the GOES-O spacecraft was encapsulated into the Delta IV payload fairing on April 7. Fairing closeouts are under way. The spacecraft is now planned to be transported from Astrotech to Launch Complex 37 for mating to the Delta IV no earlier than April 24. Launch is targeted to occur no earlier than May 12. The date will be adjusted accordingly based on the outcome of troubleshooting and readiness of the Delta IV, the status of space shuttle Atlantis on STS-125, and the availability of the Eastern Range. Boeing Satellite Systems built the GOES-O spacecraft with the commercial launch service being provided to Boeing by United Launch Alliance. The NASA Launch Services Program at Kennedy is supporting the launch in an advisory role. NASA spacecraft project management for GOES-O is the responsibility of NASAss Goddard Space Flight Center. After launch, once Boeing and NASA have completed on-orbit checkout and the spacecraft is operational, it will be turned over to NOAA. Mission: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter/Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LRO/LCROSS) Launch Vehicle: Atlas V Launch Pad: Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Launch Date: No earlier than June 2, 2009 Launch Window: TBD LRO spacecraft testing continues. The solar arrays are planned for installation on April 20. The LCROSS spacecraft will begin preparations for fueling on April 24 for fuel loading on May 5. The Atlas V is scheduled to be moved from the hangar at the Atlas Space Operations Facility to the Vertical Integration Facility near the launch pad on April 23 for Atlas-Centaur integration. Previous status reports are available at: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/index.html -end- To subscribe to the list, send a message to: ksc-subscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov To remove your address from the list, send a message to: ksc-unsubscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov
