NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report 11 Sep 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. 18, 2009
Launch Window: 8 – 8:58 a.m. EDT

The STSS Demo spacecraft Interface Verification Test with the Delta II rocket and the spacecraft functional test that followed are both complete. The Flight Program Verification test, an electrical and mechanical test involving the Delta II and the spacecraft, has also been completed. The installation of the payload fairing around the STSS spacecraft is set for this weekend.

The Flight Readiness Review is scheduled for Sept. 14. Loading of the hypergolic propellants aboard the Delta II second stage will follow on Sept. 15. On Sept. 17 at 11 p.m., the mobile service tower will be pulled away from the Delta II rocket. On launch day, Sept. 18, the terminal countdown begins at 5:20 a.m. to start the loading of the RP-1 fuel and liquid oxygen aboard the Delta II first stage.

Spacecraft: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: SLC-2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Dec. 7, 2009
Launch Window: 9:10 – 9:23 a.m. EST

At the Astrotech payload processing facility on north Vandenberg, the WISE spacecraft functional testing is complete. This week no work was scheduled to allow for crew crest after the longer work days required to support the ten days of spacecraft functional testing. Processing will resume next week.

Vandenberg Air Force Base experienced the effects of a 3.9 magnitude (light) earthquake at 4:22 a.m. PDT on Sept. 10. The epicenter was offshore in the Pacific Ocean approximately 9 miles west of Lompoc. WISE personnel performed an inspection of the spacecraft and no anomalies were noted. Also, nothing unusual was found after an inspection of the Astrotech payload processing facility.

Build-up of the Delta II at Space Launch Complex 2 is scheduled to begin on Oct. 19 with hoisting of the first stage into the launcher.

Spacecraft: Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)
Launch Vehicle: Atlas V-401
Launch Pad: Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Date: Feb. 3, 2010
Launch Window: 10:53 – 11:53 a.m. EST

With the launch being rescheduled to Feb. 3, 2010, and major SDO testing complete, spacecraft processing has reached a logical point to begin a spacecraft dwell period. SDO and spacecraft ground test support equipment have been powered off. SDO has been placed within environmentally protective double coverings.