NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report 17 February 2006

Mission: Space Technology 5 (ST5)
Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Vehicle: Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL
Launch Date: Feb. 28, 2006
Launch Window: 8:57 to 10:19 a.m. EST
Targeted Drop Time: 9:02 a.m. EST

Spacecraft closeouts are complete. The fairing was cleaned and inspected with a black light for any contamination. Quality control contamination samples were taken from the craft.

The right half of the fairing was installed Wednesday. Installation of the left half of the fairing was completed Thursday.

The Pegasus/ST5 combination will be mated to the transporter on Monday. Transportation to the runway for mating to the L-1011 carrier aircraft is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 24.

An integrated launch vehicle/spacecraft combined systems test and an ST5 state-of-health check is scheduled for Feb. 25.