April 17, 2009 George H. Diller Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 george.h.diller@nasa.gov STATUS REPORT: ELV-041709 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 On the Delta IV rocket at Launch Complex 37, troubleshooting after last week's wet dress rehearsal and tanking test revealed a leak in a fitting in the first stage liquid oxygen vent system. The fitting has been replaced. A liquid oxygen engine cutoff sensor assembly has also been replaced as an outcome of the test. A repeat of the wet dress rehearsal is planned for April 21. At the Astrotech Space Operations Facility, the GOES-O spacecraft is enclosed in the payload fairing. Spacecraft battery testing and limited battery charging activities have been under way. Closeouts to the fairing are continuing. The spacecraft currently is planned to be transported from Astrotech to Launch Complex 37 for mating to the Delta IV on April 25. Launch remains targeted to occur no earlier than May 12. The date will be adjusted accordingly based on the readiness of the Delta IV, the status of space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission launch 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 NASA's 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. This week the high gain antenna and solar arrays were deployed for "range of motion," or gimbal, tests.The high gain antenna was then stowed for flight. The solar arrays were stowed and are scheduled to be attached to the spacecraft April 20. Installation of thermal blankets is also under way. The LCROSS spacecraft will begin preparations for fueling on April 24. LRO will begin fuel loading on May 5. The Atlas V rocket 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 22 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
