Oct 14, 2011

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

STATUS REPORT: ELV-101411

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 27, 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 NPP spacecraft was moved from the Astrotech payload processing facility to NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 on Oct 13 and hoisted atop the Delta II rocket Spacecraft "state of health" checks are scheduled on Oct 14 The Flight Program Verification, an integrated test involving both the Delta II and NPP, is scheduled for Oct 15 The CubeSat satellite carrier will be installed onto the rocket Oct 17 The payload fairing will be installed around the spacecraft on Oct 19

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 Atlas V rocket was moved from the Vertical Integration Facility to the launch pad on Oct 12 in preparation for the "Wet Dress Rehearsal" (WDR) During the afternoon, the RP-1 fuel, a highly refined kerosene, was loaded aboard and leak checks were conducted The RP-1 will remain onboard until launch

The WDR was conducted on Oct 13, and all Atlas V systems were fully tested Liquid oxygen was loaded aboard the first stage, and liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen were loaded into the second stage The test concluded successfully, and the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen were then de-tanked from the launch vehicle The Atlas V was set to be returned to the Vertical Integration Facility on Oct 14 It will be rolled out to the pad once again on Nov 23 in preparation for launch on Nov 25

In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF), integration of the Mars Science Laboratory systems for flight continues on schedule The two halves of the payload fairing have arrived at the PHSF and are undergoing cleaning in preparation for encapsulation of the spacecraft later this month MSL currently is set to be transported to Launch Complex 41 on or about Nov 2

The MLS Curiosity rover 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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