NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report 19 October 2011

Spacecraft: NPP (NPOESS Preparatory Project)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7920
Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 2
Launch Date: Oct. 28, 2011
Launch Window: 2:48:01 a.m. – 2:57:11 a.m. PDT (9 min., 10 sec.)
Orbital Altitude: 512 miles

The launch of the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) spacecraft aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base has been retargeted for Friday, Oct. 28. The postponement for at least 24 hours will allow time to complete the necessary engineering review before the payload fairing is installed around the spacecraft.

The launch window on Oct. 28 is unchanged and extends from 2:48:01 a.m. – 2:57:11 a.m. PDT.

NPP represents a critical first step in building the next-generation of Earth-observing satellites. NPP will carry the first of the new sensors developed for this satellite fleet, now known as the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), to be launched in 2016. NPP is the bridge between NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites and the forthcoming series of JPSS satellites. The mission will test key technologies and instruments for the JPSS missions.

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