Spacecraft and Expendable Vehicles Status 24 Jul 2002
MISSION: Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX)
LAUNCH VEHICLE: Pegasus XL
LAUNCH SITE: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
LAUNCH DATE: Oct. 17 NET
LAUNCH WINDOW: TBD
The GALEX spacecraft is at the Orbital Space Systems Group facility in Dulles, Virginia and is expected to arrive at KSC to begin final processing on or about August 26. A decision was made to implement some hardware and software changes to the spacecraft’s logic unit. These have been installed and testing of the new components is now underway. The tests are expected to conclude by August 1.
Meanwhile, in California at Vandenberg Air Force Base, the Pegasus XL launch vehicle has completed processing and is ready for ferry to KSC. This is planned for approximately Sept. 13.
At this time, the launch is anticipated to occur no earlier than Oct. 17.
MISSION: Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-J (TDRS-J)
LAUNCH VEHICLE: Lockheed Martin Atlas IIA (AC-144)
LAUNCH SITE: Pad 36-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
LAUNCH DATE: October 29, 2002
LAUNCH WINDOW: TBD
The TDRS-J spacecraft is anticipated to arrive at Kennedy Space Center from the Boeing Satellite Systems plant in El Segundo, California on September 26. The launch is scheduled to occur on October 29, however, the launch window has not yet been determined.
The Lockheed Martin Atlas II launch vehicle is at the factory in Denver, Colorado undergoing final assembly. Arrival of the booster at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is anticipated to occur in mid-September.
MISSION: Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE)
LAUNCH VEHICLE: Pegasus XL
LAUNCH LOCATION: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
LAUNCH DATE: December 1, 2002
SORCE is at the Orbital Space Systems Group spacecraft facility in Dulles, Virginia undergoing environmental testing. The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at Kennedy Space Center to begin final processing on October 25.
The Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL launch vehicle is undergoing buildup and testing at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Two Flight Simulation tests are scheduled while the vehicle is in California. Flight Simulation No. 1 is scheduled for October 1 and will be followed by Flight Simulation No. 2 on October 9.
The Pegasus is scheduled for ferry to Cape Canaveral using the Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft on October 28.
Three Flight Simulation tests are also planned at KSC prior to launch and are scheduled to occur on November 1, November 8 and November 18.
