NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report 1 December 2004
MISSION: Deep Impact
LAUNCH VEHICLE: Delta II 7925
LAUNCH PAD: Pad 17-B Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
LAUNCH DATE: Jan. 8, 2005
LAUNCH WINDOW: 1:39:50 and 2:19:12 p.m. EST instantaneous
The NASA Launch Services Program conducted the Launch Vehicle Readiness Review on Nov. 30. At the
conclusion, Jan. 8 was firmly established as the launch date for Deep Impact and this date has been
set on the Eastern Range.
In processing activities at the Astrotech Space Operations facility located near Kennedy Space
Center, the Deep Impact solar array panels will undergo an illumination test as a final check of
performance on Dec. 8. The high-gain antenna used for spacecraft communications will be installed
on Dec. 9 and the flight battery will be installed on Dec. 10. Deep Impact will then be ready to
begin preparations for fueling, which is scheduled to start on Dec. 16 and be completed on Dec. 19.
Mating to the payload attach fitting and upper stage booster occurs Dec. 22 – 23.
The spacecraft is currently scheduled to be transported to Pad 17-B on Dec. 28 and mated to the
Boeing Delta II rocket. The Flight Program Verification, the major integrated test with the Delta
II, occurs on Dec. 30. The Delta II payload fairing will be installed around the Deep Impact
spacecraft on Jan. 4.
NASA’s Deep Impact spacecraft arrived in Florida on Oct. 23 to begin final preparations for launch.
The spacecraft was shipped from Ball Aerospace & Technologies in Boulder, Colo., to Astrotech.
The stacking of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on Pad 17-B began on Nov. 22 with the hoisting
of the first stage into the launcher. Hoisting of the nine strap-on solid rocket boosters, in sets
of three, began with the first set on Nov. 23 and the second on Nov 29. The last set is being
installed on the vehicle today. The second stage will be hoisted into position atop the first stage
on Friday, Dec. 3. The payload fairing will be hoisted and stowed in the mobile service tower on
Dec. 6.
