Jan. 21, 2011 George H. Diller Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 george.h.diller@nasa.gov STATUS REPORT: ELV-012111 EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT Spacecraft: Glory Launch Vehicle: Taurus XL 3110 Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Launch Date: Feb. 23, 2011 Launch Time: 2:09:43 a.m. PST Altitude/Inclination: 440 miles/98.2 degrees At the Astrotech payload processing facility on north Vandenberg Air Force Base, pre-launch testing of Glory continues. The "limited performance tests" and a solar array illumination test have been completed. Fueling of the spacecraft with its attitude control propellant is planned for early next week. At the launch pad, Stage 0 of the Taurus XL rocket was hoisted atop the elevated launch stand on Jan. 17. Stages 1, 2 and 3 are in Orbital Sciences Hangar 1555 on north Vandenberg and are scheduled to be moved to the launch pad next week on Jan. 25. Data from the Glory mission will allow scientists to better understand the Earth's energy budget. An accurate description of the Earth's energy budget is important in order to anticipate future changes to our climate. Shifts in the global climate and the associated weather patterns impact human life by altering landscapes and changing the availability of natural resources. The Aerosol Polarimetry Sensor instrument will measure aerosols (human-caused and naturally occurring) to determine their relative influence on the global climate. The Total Irradiance Monitor instrument will monitor the Sun to understand short-term solar mechanisms causing energy budget changes and will contribute to the vital long-term solar record. 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
