SPACECRAFT AND EXPENDABLE VEHICLES STATUS REPORT<br />April 14, 2003<br /><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 27, 2003 <br />LAUNCH TIME: 4:25:01 a.m. EDT<br /><br /><br /> It has been determined that additional time is needed to complete<br />launch readiness evaluations for the Delta II launch vehicle prior to<br />holding the Flight Readiness Review. Therefore, the launch of SIRTF is<br />being rescheduled to occur on April 27, 2003, at 4:25:01 a.m. EDT.<br /><br /><br /> On April 10 at Pad 17-B, the Delta II payload fairing was installed<br />around the SIRTF spacecraft. Servicing of the observatory with cryogenic<br />helium will begin next week.<br /><br /><br /> SIRTF was transported from Hangar AE to launch pad 17-B and mated<br />to the Boeing Delta II rocket on Saturday, April 5. An interface<br />verification test to assure that electrical and mechanical connections have<br />been properly established was successfully completed on Sunday, April 6.<br />This was followed by a successful spacecraft state of health check. <br /><br /><br /> A flight simulation to test the vehicle's systems that will<br />operate during powered flight was completed April 3. An RP-1 leak check of<br />the first stage that involves loading of the highly refined kerosene fuel<br />was completed April 4.<br />The Flight Program Verification, an integrated test of the vehicle and the<br />spacecraft that is the final major test before launch, was successfully<br />completed April 7.<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: TBD <br />LAUNCH WINDOW: TBD<br /><br /><br /> Processing of GALEX began its conclusion with the encapsulation of<br />the GALEX spacecraft on Sunday, April 13, with the starboard fairing. The<br />activity finished today with installation of the port fairing. <br /> <br /> Because SIRTF will now take the GALEX launch opportunity, a new<br />launch date for GALEX has not been identified. However, it is expected to<br />be approximately one week after the launch of SIRTF.<br /> <br /> GALEX was re-mated to the Pegasus on Monday, April 7, followed by<br />a flight simulation on Wednesday, April 9. The GALEX/Pegasus will be<br />transported to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and mated to the L-1011<br />about four days before launch. An integrated test, the Combined Systems Test<br />(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: June 6/June 25<br />LAUNCH TIMES: 2:12:44 p.m. / 12:38:16 a.m. EDT<br /><br /><br /> The beginning of the launch period for the first of NASA's two<br />Mars Exploration Rover missions will be rescheduled until no earlier than<br />June 6 to allow time to address a potential problem raised during pre-launch<br />tests of the spacecraft over the weekend. <br /><br /><br /> The concern regards cabling that connects the spacecraft's main<br />computer, which is inside the rover, to peripherals in the cruise stage,<br />lander and small deep space transponder. The connection to the cruise stage<br />is severed during approach to Mars and the connection to the lander is<br />severed before the rover drives off. Pre-launch testing revealed a<br />potential problem in how the spacecraft interprets signals sent when the<br />cables are severed. The problem will require fixing on both rovers. The<br />work is not expected to effect the launch period for the second rover<br />mission which is scheduled to open June 25 and close July 15 for a landing<br />Jan. 25, 2004. However, the second mission cannot launch until 10 days<br />after the first one.<br /><br /><br /> The remedy will require some disassembly of the spacecraft at<br />NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Fla. The work cannot be done<br />within the schedule of preparations for the original May 30 opening of the<br />launch period. The mission will have two launch opportunities each day<br />during the launch period, which is scheduled to close on June 19. Arrival<br />at Mars is set for Jan. 4, 2003, regardless of launch date within that<br />period. <br /><br /><br />On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, first and second stage processing<br />activities for the MER-A vehicle continues in Hangar AO and erection on Pad<br />17-A is planned to begin April 22. Erection of the vehicle for MER-B is<br />planned to begin May 24. <br /><br /><br /># # #