Spacecraft and Expendable Vehicles Status Report 18 Sep 2002

MISSION: Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-J (TDRS-J)

LAUNCH VEHICLE: Lockheed Martin Atlas IIA (AC-144)

LAUNCH SITE: Pad 36-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

LAUNCH DATE: November 20, 2002

LAUNCH WINDOW:10:36 p.m. – 11:16 p.m. EST

                 
The Atlas II launch vehicle is at the Lockheed Martin factory in Denver, Colorado undergoing final assembly, integration and testing. Both Centaur stage engines have been installed. Associated electrical harnesses are being installed and the aft area of the stage is undergoing electrical and mechanical build-up. The arrival of the booster at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station continues to be anticipated around October 8.  

The TDRS-J spacecraft is undergoing testing at the factory and is planned to arrive at Kennedy Space Center from the Boeing Satellite Systems plant in El Segundo, California on or about October 17.

 
MISSION: Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE)

LAUNCH VEHICLE: Pegasus XL

LAUNCH LOCATION: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

LAUNCH DATE:December 1, 2002

LAUNCH WINDOW: 3:10 p.m. – 4:10 p.m. EST

         SORCE is at the Orbital Space Systems Group spacecraft facility in Dulles, Virginia and has satisfactorily completed space environment tests. The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at Kennedy Space Center to begin final processing on October 25.

         The Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL launch vehicle continues to undergo buildup and testing at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Two Flight Simulation tests are scheduled while the vehicle is in California. Flight Simulation No. 1 is scheduled for October 1 and will be followed by Flight Simulation No. 2 on October 9.

         The Pegasus is scheduled for ferry to Cape Canaveral using the Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft on October 28. Three Flight Simulation tests are also planned at KSC prior to launch and are scheduled to occur on November 1, November 8 and November 18.

MISSION: Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESAT) and the Cosmic Hot Interstellar Spectrometer (CHIPSAT)                                                                                                 

LAUNCH VEHICLE: Delta II w/Dual Payload Attach Fixture (DPAF)

LAUNCH SITE: SLC-2W Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB)

LAUNCH DATE: NET December 15, 2002

LAUNCH WINDOW: 4:09:32 – 5::32:00 p.m. PST

         The ICESAT spacecraft is at the Ball Aerospace Facility in Boulder Colorado currently undergoing workmanship vibration testing. The ICESAT spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at Vandenberg Air Force Base on October 29.

          The CHIPSAT spacecraft is at Kirkland Air Force Base, New Mexico where it just concluded vibration testing and is being prepped to undergo thermal vacuum testing starting next week. The CHIPSAT spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at VAFB on October 15.

The Delta II first and second stage arrived at VAFB last week after successfully completing its combined checkout at CCAFS. The booster is scheduled for erection October 22 at VAFB.