NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report 24 July 2009

Mission: Space Tracking and Surveillance System – Demonstrators
Program (STSS-Demo)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7920-10
Launch Pad: Launch Pad 17 B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Date: Sept. 15, 2009
Launch Window: 8 – 9 p.m. EDT

At Pad B on Launch Complex 17, liquid oxygen leak checks of the first stage were completed successfully on July 20. For this test, the first stage was filled with liquid oxygen during a simulated countdown.

At the pad on the following day, July 21, a simulated flight test was completed without issues. This is an electrical and mechanical test of the Delta II that exercises all of the launch vehicle systems in the same manner as will occur during powered flight.

Also this week, first stage main engine preparation work is under way, and the first stage RP-1 fuel is being tested in order to be qualified for flight.

Mission: Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)
Launch Vehicle: Atlas V-401
Launch Pad: Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Timeframe: Dec. 4, 2009

Connections between the recently installed flight battery and the SDO spacecraft have been established. Spacecraft electrical testing is under way. The high gain antenna has been returned to its stowed vertical position for the present time.

The SDO full observatory comprehensive performance test is currently scheduled to begin on Aug. 10. This will fully test all of the spacecraft science instruments and will be their last major evaluation before launch.

Previous status reports are available at: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/index.html