Jan 16, 2009

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

STATUS REPORT: ELV-011609

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Mission: NOAA-N Prime Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320 Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif Launch Date: Feb 4, 2009 Launch Window: 2:22:01 - 2:32:01 a m PST

In the early morning hours of Jan 15, the NOAA-N Prime spacecraft was transported from the Building 1610 payload processing facility to Space Launch Complex 2 It was hoisted from the pad surface and mated to the Delta II rocket Spacecraft 'state of health' checks are under way

The liquid oxygen tanking test and countdown demonstration and simulated flight test have been successfully completed The Flight Program Verification, an integrated test of the Delta II and NOAA-N Prime, is scheduled for Jan 22 This is the last major test before launch The fairing is scheduled to be installed around the spacecraft on Jan 27

Mission: Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) Launch Vehicle: Taurus XL (Orbital Sciences) Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 576-E, Vandenberg AFB Launch Date: Feb 23, 2009 Launch Time: 1:51 a m PST (7 min , 30 sec launch window)

In the Astrotech payload processing facility, fueling of the OCO spacecraft was completed this week as planned The spacecraft will be placed into the payload fairing on Feb 7

On the Taurus launch vehicle in Building 1555 on north Vandenberg, a flight simulation test is scheduled for Jan 19 Stage 1 is then planned to be mated to Stage 2 on Jan 22

Stage 0, the stage providing the initial liftoff thrust, will be hoisted into position at the launch pad on Jan 28 The payload/upper launch vehicle integrated stack is planned to be hoisted on top of Stage 0 on Feb 16

Mission: Kepler Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7925 Launch Pad: 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla Launch Date: March 5, 2009 Launch Time: 10:48 p m EDT

Testing of the Kepler spacecraft is under way Post-arrival state-of-health checks were finished with no issues Completed this week were a solar array light sensor test, a solar array illumination test, and a reaction control subsystem leak test A Kepler mission scenario test is scheduled for Jan 24-25

Launch preparations for the Delta II rocket continue on schedule at Pad 17-B On Jan 19, the first stage will be loaded with liquid oxygen as a leak check, and to serve as a countdown demonstration and certification for the launch team A flight simulation that will exercise the electrical and mechanical systems of the rocket as they will operate after liftoff during flight will be conducted on Jan 20

Previous status reports are available at:

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

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to: ksc-subscribe@newsletters nasa gov To remove your address from the list, send a message to: ksc-unsubscribe@newsletters nasa gov

The following information is a reminder of your current mailing list subscription:

You are subscribed to the following list: [list_name]

using the following email: example@example.com

You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL:

http://www aus-city com/cgi-bin/dada/plugins/dada_bridge pl/u/[list]/

If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the entire address Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this automatic unsubscribe mechanism

You may also change your subscription by visiting this list's main screen:

<[program_url]/list/[list]>

If you're still having trouble, please contact the list owner at:

<mailto:[list_owner_email]>

The following physical address is associated with this mailing list:

[physical_address]