Oct 25, 2011

George H Diller Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 george h diller@nasa gov

STATUS REPORT: ELV-102511

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Spacecraft: NPP (NPOESS Preparatory Project) Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7920 Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 2 Launch Date: Oct 28, 2011 Launch Window: 2:48:01 a m - 2:57:11 a m PDT (9 min , 10 sec ) Orbital Altitude: 512 miles

At Vandenberg Air Force Base, the Flight Readiness Review was successfully completed on Oct 21 A launch countdown dress rehearsal was conducted on Oct 24 At NASA's Space Launch Complex 2, the Delta II rocket second stage was loaded with its complement of storable hypergolic propellants on Oct 24-25

In preparation for the terminal countdown, the RP-1 fuel will be loaded aboard the first stage late in the afternoon on Oct 27 and will be followed immediately afterward by pulling the mobile service tower away from the rocket Loading liquid oxygen into the vehicle's first stage is planned to begin shortly after 1 a m leading to the targeted 2:48:01 a m PDT launch

NPP represents a critical first step in building the next-generation of Earth-observing satellites NPP will carry the first of the new sensors developed for this satellite fleet, now known as the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), to be launched in 2016 NPP is the bridge between NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites and the forthcoming series of JPSS satellites The mission will test key technologies and instruments for the JPSS missions

Spacecraft: Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) Launch Vehicle: Atlas V-541 (AV-028) Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 41 Launch Date: Nov 25, 2011 Launch Time: 10:25 a m EST

In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF), integration of the Mars Science Laboratory into the Atlas V payload fairing is under way this week On Nov 1, it will be hoisted atop the payload transporter MSL will be moved to Launch Complex 41 during the overnight hours of Nov 2

Curiosity has 10 science instruments to search for evidence about whether Mars has had environments favorable for microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release the gasses so that its spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth

Previous status reports are available at:

http://www nasa gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/index html

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