NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report 21 August 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

Now that the launch of the Air Force Global Positioning System navigation satellite was accomplished successfully on Aug. 17 from Pad 17A, work has resumed on Pad 17B. The Delta II was powered on this week for state of health checks and associated testing. Configuring the pad for launch is also under way.

The STSS Demo payload is planned to arrive at the pad for hoisting atop the Delta II next week. Spacecraft ground support equipment is being brought to the pad this week in preparation for spacecraft arrival.

Spacecraft: Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)
Launch Vehicle: Atlas V-401
Launch Pad: Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Date: No Earlier Than Dec. 4, 2009

The SDO full observatory comprehensive performance test was completed on Aug. 15. This was the last major test of all the spacecraft science instruments before launch. A verification test of the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager was also successfully performed this week.

The three primary science instruments are currently powered for a Ka-band data flow checkout.

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 (tentative)

At the Astrotech payload processing facility on north Vandenberg, WISE has been transferred to a work stand to begin processing for launch. The batteries are currently being charged in preparation for the start of spacecraft functional testing on Aug. 24. The testing will require approximately ten days.