Sept 30, 2011

Tracy Young Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 tracy g young@nasa gov

STATUS REPORT: ELV-093011

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 25, 2011 Launch Window: 2:48:01 a m - 2:57:11 a m PDT Orbital Altitude: 512 miles

At Vandenberg Air Force Base, instrument inspection and cleaning of the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) spacecraft have been completed NPP spacecraft fuel loading of the hydrazine propellant was completed on Sept 22, and propellant tank pressurization was completed on Sept 24 Electrical Ground Support Equipment was delivered on Sept 26 and preparations are under way for a validation test, which currently is scheduled for Oct 4 - 5 The NPP spacecraft will be transported to the launch pad for attachment to the Delta II rocket on Oct 7

United Launch Alliance team members have resumed testing of the Delta II rocket at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 Pneumatic system testing on the first and second stages and control system testing was completed Sept 28 The first stage liquid oxygen leak check and certification is scheduled to be completed today This also will serve as a crew certification for the countdown on launch day, Oct 25

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: 10:21 a m EST

At Launch Complex 41, the four solid rocket boosters were attached to the Atlas first stage booster The Centaur upper stage was hoisted atop the Atlas on Sept 21 The initial launch vehicle power-on activities are planned for this week

At NASA Kennedy Space Center's Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, the team is integrating the spacecraft in preparation for payload fairing encapsulation and subsequent attachment to the Atlas V in about five weeks The descent stage to rover mate was completed last week That configuration, known as the powered descent vehicle (PDV), was installed in the backshell The entry vehicle configuration, which includes the heat shield, will be completed this week

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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