NASA Expendable Launch Vehicles Status Report 26 June 2006

Mission: STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory)
Launch Pad: 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta II
Launch Date: July 30, 2006
Launch Time: 2:55 – 2:57 p.m. or 4:03 – 4:18 p.m. EDT

The launch of STEREO aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket has been rescheduled to July 30, pending confirmation by the Eastern Range. This allows the launch to occur at a more optimum time in the launch period and provides additional schedule time to accomplish critical safety operations on the spacecraft, including fueling and spin balance testing.

At the Astrotech Space Operations Facility, testing and prelaunch processing of STEREO continues. The final Comprehensive Performance Test was completed late last week on the “A” Observatory. The “B” Observatory completed the test earlier in the week. The “B” spacecraft’s solar arrays have been installed. Technicians are performing the deployment tests on the “A” solar arrays and high-gain antenna today. STEREO launch and mission simulations with the Deep Space Network were also performed. Thermal blanket installation continues.

The second and third sets of three solid rocket boosters will be erected on the Delta II booster for STEREO at Pad 17-B this week. This is possible now that the U.S. Air Force MiTEx mission has launched from adjacent Pad 17-A. After the boosters are erected, the second stage will be hoisted atop the first stage, and the payload fairing will be raised into the clean room inside the pad’s mobile service tower.

For previous expendable launch vehicle processing status reports, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/2006