NASA Expendable Vehicles Launch Status Report 2 February 2005

MISSION: NOAA-N (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration)

LAUNCH VEHICLE: Boeing Delta II 7320

LAUNCH PAD: SLC-2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

LAUNCH DATE: March 19, 2005

LAUNCH WINDOW: 2:22:01 – 2:32:01 a.m. PST

In California, processing of the NOAA-N weather satellite continues on
schedule in NASA spacecraft processing hangar 1610 located on North
Vandenberg Air Force Base. The Spacecraft Electrical Performance Test
which was under way last week has been successfully completed. The
Solar Array Illumination Telemetry Test is scheduled for Feb. 4. The
final instrument inspections and associated instrument close-outs for
flight will be performed Feb. 15-16. The spacecraft is currently
scheduled to be taken to the launch pad to be mated with the Delta II
rocket on Feb. 25.

At Space Launch Complex 2, preparations for launch are going well. The
first power-on testing of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle began on
Jan. 31 as scheduled. The Vehicle Guidance and Control
Qualifications, which are tests of the Delta II guidance and control
systems, are now planned for Feb. 4. The First Stage Liquid Oxygen
“LOX” Leak Checks, a countdown test that involves loading liquid
oxygen aboard the first stage and also serves as a countdown
certification for the launch team, will be held next week on Feb. 10.

The build-up of the Boeing Delta II at the pad began on Jan. 12 with
the erection of the first stage and interstage adapter. The three
strap-on solid rocket boosters were attached to the vehicle on Jan.
17. The second stage was hoisted atop the first stage on Jan. 20.

After launch, NOAA-N will be renamed NOAA-18 and will provide
measurements of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere that will be
entered into NOAA’s weather forecasting models and used for other
environmental studies. Each day, the satellite will send data to
NOAA’s Command and Data Acquisition station computers, adding vital
information to forecasting models, especially over the oceans, where
conventional data is lacking.

The spacecraft will be turned over from NASA to NOAA after on-orbit
checkout is complete. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland
is responsible for NOAA-N project management. The spacecraft was
built for NASA by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. The Delta II
launch service is provided by the Boeing Expendable Launch Systems
Company. Launch management is the responsibility of the NASA Kennedy
Space Center Launch Services Program office.