SPACECRAFT AND EXPENDABLE VEHICLES STATUS REPORT<br />April 3, 2003<br /><br />George H. Diller<br />Kennedy Space Center<br />321/867-2468<br /><br />MISSION: Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF)<br />LAUNCH VEHICLE: Delta II Heavy<br />LAUNCH PAD: 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station<br />LAUNCH DATE: April 18, 2003<br />LAUNCH TIME: 4:32:49 a.m. EDT<br /><br /> Functional testing of SIRTF has been successfully completed and<br />the spacecraft was mated to the Delta payload attach fitting on March 31.<br />Work is now under way to install the observatory into a transportation<br />canister in preparation for moving to Space Launch Complex 17. SIRTF will<br />be mated to the Boeing Delta II rocket on Saturday, April 5. There will<br />then be an interface verification test to assure that electrical and<br />mechanical connections have been properly established. This will be<br />followed by a spacecraft state of health check.<br /><br /> At Pad 17-B on the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle, a liquid oxygen<br />leak check of the first stage that will include a simulated countdown and<br />the loading of liquid oxygen aboard was performed yesterday, April 2. A<br />flight simulation to test the vehicle's systems that will operate during<br />powered flight is under way today. An RP-1 leak check of the first stage<br />that involves loading of the highly refined kerosene fuel is scheduled for<br />Friday, April 4.<br /><br /> The Flight Program Verification, an integrated test of the vehicle<br />and the spacecraft that is the final major test before launch, is scheduled<br />to occur April 7. The payload fairing will be installed around SIRTF atop<br />the Delta II on April 9 and will be followed by servicing the observatory<br />with cryogenic helium.<br /><br /> Project management of SIRTF for NASA is by the Jet Propulsion<br />Laboratory. The observatory is built by Lockheed Martin and Ball Aerospace.<br /><br /><br />MISSION: Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX)<br />LAUNCH VEHICLE: Pegasus XL<br />LAUNCH PAD: Skid Strip, Canaveral Air Force Station<br />LAUNCH DATE: April 26, 2003 NET<br />LAUNCH WINDOW: 7:50 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. EDT (Drop time: 8:00 a.m. EDT)<br /><br /> The GALEX test team has conducted a borescope inspection of the<br />spacecraft and did not find any loose hardware within it. Foreign object<br />debris shields were installed which will assure protection of the spacecraft<br />components once the satellite is in orbit.<br /><br /> GALEX will be re-mated to the Pegasus on Monday, April 14. A<br />flight simulation will follow. The fairing will be installed around GALEX<br />on April 14. The GALEX/Pegasus will be transported to Cape Canaveral Air<br />Force Station and mated to the L-1011 carrier aircraft on April 22. An<br />integrated test, a Combined Systems Test (CST) will follow.<br /><br /> The GALEX program management is by NASA's Goddard Space Flight<br />Center and is part of Goddard's Small Explorer (SMEX) program. Spacecraft<br />project management is the responsibility of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory,<br />and the California Institute of Technology is the lead for mission science.<br /><br /><br />MISSION: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER-1/MER-2)<br />LAUNCH VEHICLES: Delta II/Delta II Heavy<br />LAUNCH PADS: 17-A/17-B<br />LAUNCH DATES: May 30/June 25<br />LAUNCH TIMES: 2:28 p.m. / 12:34 a.m. EDT<br /><br />Yesterday on MER-1, the science boom was deployed, tested and retracted. On<br />Monday, March 31 a functional test and mission simulation was performed that<br />included deployment of the solar arrays, camera mast and camera. A<br />functional test of the camera was also performed. This test will be<br />repeated on Friday, April 4.<br /><br />On MER-2, the solar arrays have been stowed for flight and the rover was<br />installed on the base petal on March 28. Closeouts are now underway.<br />Installation of the landing airbags will also occur on Friday, April 4.<br /><br /> Processing of the cruise stage, lander and heat shield elements for both<br />missions continues. Once functional testing and mission simulation of the<br />flight elements is complete, they will be integrated together. Each<br />spacecraft will be mated to a solid propellant upper stage booster that will<br />propel the spacecraft out of Earth orbit. After mating to the upper stage,<br />the stack will undergo spin balance testing. Approximately ten days before<br />launch, the fully integrated payload will be transported to the launch pad<br />for mating with their respective Boeing Delta II rockets.<br /><br />On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, first and second stage processing<br />activities continue in launch vehicle hangars. A combined electrical system<br />test is scheduled for Friday, April 4. The Boeing Delta II vehicle for the<br />first launch of the two launches scheduled on May 30 is planned for erection<br />on Pad 17-A at Space Launch Complex 17 beginning April 22. The Delta for<br />the second launch on June 25 will begin its erection at Pad 17-B on May 1.