NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report 19 April 2006

Mission: Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite
Observations (CALIPSO) and CloudSat
Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta II
Launch Date: April 21, 2006
Launch Time: 6:02:08 a.m. EDT

Workers at Space Launch Complex 2 fueled the Delta II second stage Tuesday for flight with storable hypergolic propellants. Officials also conducted a launch countdown dress rehearsal.

No significant issues or concerns were found during the Flight Readiness Review on Monday. Technicians installed the payload fairing around the two spacecraft on April 14 and are conducting a routine state-of-health check today.

Plans call for the RP-1 fuel, highly refined kerosene, to be loaded on the rocket’s first stage on Thursday afternoon. Early that evening, the mobile service tower will be retracted from around the rocket. Liquid oxygen will be loaded into the first stage during the terminal countdown sequence that starts at 4 a.m. EDT Friday. There is currently an 80 percent chance of acceptable weather conditions for launch.

For more information about CALIPSO/CloudSat, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/calipso or http://www.nasa.gov/cloudsat

Previous status reports are available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/2006