April 24, 2009 George H. Diller Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 george.h.diller@nasa.gov STATUS REPORT: ELV-042409 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 20, 2009 Launch Window: TBD The GOES-O launch aboard a Delta IV rocket from Space Launch Complex 37 currently is scheduled for no earlier than May 20. Recent production lot testing of the linear shape charge system has indicated the need to incorporate minor design changes to assure their reliability. The linear shape charge is a component of the Range Safety command destruct system. There are three linear shape charges on this Delta IV which will require a modification. Schedules are being developed for the qualification and implementation of the design modification. It is anticipated that there will be some impact to the current May 20 launch date. On the Delta IV at Launch Complex 37, a repeat of the wet dress rehearsal was completed on April 21. No liquid oxygen leak was observed. At the Astrotech Space Operations Facility, the GOES-O spacecraft is enclosed in the payload fairing. The spacecraft remains in excellent health, and is ready to be moved to the launch pad once a launch date has been determined. NASA has contracted with Boeing to build and launch the GOES-O spacecraft. 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 The three solar arrays were attached to LRO on April 19. Spacecraft testing this week included applying power to the solar arrays, a course sun sensor functional test, and phase testing of the attitude control system. The LCROSS spacecraft is being fueled today. LRO fuel loading is scheduled for May 5. The Atlas V booster stage 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 27. The Centaur will then be moved on April 29 and hoisted atop the Atlas. 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
