David E. Steitz<br />Headquarters, Washington September 9, 2003<br />(Phone: 202/358-1730)<br /><br />John Leslie <br />National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration<br />(Phone: 301/457-5005)<br /><br />RELEASE: 03-287<br /><br />NASA, NOAA & LOCKHEED MARTIN INVESTIGATE SATELLITE ACCIDENT <br /><br /> On September 6, while performing work on the NOAA-N <br />Prime spacecraft, being prepared to launch in 2008 for the <br />National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the <br />satellite was dropped.<br /><br />Lockheed Martin, the contractor in charge of the <br />construction and test of the satellite in Sunnyvale, Calif., <br />NASA and NOAA formed teams to investigate the accident and <br />assess impact. The 14-foot spacecraft was about three feet <br />off the ground in an upright stance, when it slipped from a <br />fixture, as it was being turned from a vertical to <br />horizontal position.<br /><br />"NASA and NOAA are understandably concerned about this <br />accident, because the NOAA-N Prime spacecraft is vital to <br />the continuity of the polar-orbiting environmental satellite <br />program. We are waiting for an assessment of the damage from <br />the investigation teams. We will have a better idea of the <br />extent of the impact on our satellite programs when the <br />results are available," said retired Navy Vice Admiral <br />Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D, undersecretary of commerce for <br />oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.<br /><br />NOAA's Satellite and Information Service operates two polar-<br />orbiting operational environmental satellites (POES), which <br />are critical in monitoring weather and climate.<br /><br />NOAA-N Prime is under guard, and Lockheed Martin and NASA <br />have secured all records.<br /><br />NASA develops the POES for NOAA on a reimbursable basis. <br />NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md, performs <br />program management for the development of the satellites. <br /><br /><br />-end-