NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report 16 November 2005

Mission: Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations & CloudSat
Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta 7420 with Dual Payload Attach Fitting
Launch Pad: NASA’s Space Launch Complex 2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: TBD
Launch Window: 5:01 a.m. EST

CALIPSO and CloudSat are installed within the Dual Payload Attach Fitting at the Astrotech payload processing facilities. The payload combination will be placed in an environmentally-controlled canister and installed on the payload transporter for the trip to the launch pad. Delta II preparations at Complex 2 are on hold until the payloads arrive for installation on the second stage. Preparations can resume when the Boeing technicians’ strike is resolved.

Mission: New Horizons
Launch Vehicle: Lockheed Martin Atlas V 551 (AV-010)
Launch Pad: Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Date: Jan. 11, 2006
Launch Window: 2:08 to 4:07 p.m. EST

The bottom portion of the payload fairing was installed this week on the Atlas V. A Launch Vehicle Readiness Review was successfully completed Tuesday. The fit check of the Radioisotope Thermo-electric Generator power system with the spacecraft was performed last week. The generator will be installed for flight at the launch pad. A “dry” spin balance test of the spacecraft will be completed this week. After Thanksgiving, hydrazine fuel for attitude control and course-correction maneuvers will be loaded on the spacecraft and a “wet” spin balance test performed.