NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report 6 September 2005

Mission: Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder
Satellite Observation and CloudSat (CALIPSO/CloudSat)
Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta 7420 w/Dual Payload Attach Fitting (DPAF)
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: NET Oct. 1, 2005

-Due to other Delta II launch and test activity, CALIPSO/CloudSat is tentatively scheduled for no earlier than Oct. 1, pending the availability of the Western Range.

-CALIPSO was installed onto the payload attach fitting on Aug. 30 and is being installed within the upper portion of the DPAF today.

-CloudSat processing activities are complete. Battery charging will continue until the spacecraft is transported to the launch pad along with CALIPSO on Sept. 13. The CloudSat Mission Readiness Review was successfully completed on Sept. 1.

-The Delta II preparations at NASA’s Space Launch Complex 2 are complete and the launch vehicle is awaiting arrival of the CALIPSO/CloudSat payloads for installation atop the second stage.

Previous status reports are available on the Web at:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/2005