[meteorite-list] Deep Impact Update - December 1, 2004

[Ron Baalke]

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(321) 867-2468

RELEASE: ELV-120104

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLES STATUS REPORT
December 1, 2004

MISSION: Deep Impact
 LAUNCH VEHICLE: Delta II 7925
 LAUNCH PAD: Pad 17-B Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
 LAUNCH DATE: Jan. 8, 2005
 LAUNCH WINDOW: 1:39:50 and 2:19:12 p.m. EST instantaneous

The NASA Launch Services Program conducted the Launch Vehicle 
Readiness Review on Nov. 30. At the conclusion, Jan. 8 was 
firmly established as the launch date for Deep Impact and 
this date has been set on the Eastern Range.

In processing activities at the Astrotech Space Operations 
facility located near Kennedy Space Center, the Deep Impact 
solar array panels will undergo an illumination test as a 
final check of performance on Dec. 8. The high-gain antenna 
used for spacecraft communications will be installed on 
Dec. 9 and the flight battery will be installed on Dec. 10. 
Deep Impact will then be ready to begin preparations for 
fueling, which is scheduled to start on Dec. 16 and be 
completed on Dec. 19. Mating to the payload attach fitting 
and upper stage booster occurs Dec. 22 - 23.

The spacecraft is currently scheduled to be transported to 
Pad 17-B on Dec. 28 and mated to the Boeing Delta II rocket. 
The Flight Program Verification, the major integrated test 
with the Delta II, occurs on Dec. 30. The Delta II payload 
fairing will be installed around the Deep Impact 
spacecraft on Jan. 4.

NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft arrived in Florida on Oct. 23 
to begin final preparations for launch. The spacecraft was 
shipped from Ball Aerospace & Technologies in Boulder, Colo., 
to Astrotech.

The stacking of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on Pad 
17-B began on Nov. 22 with the hoisting of the first stage 
into the launcher. Hoisting of the nine strap-on solid 
rocket boosters, in sets of three, began with the first set 
on Nov. 23 and the second on Nov 29. The last set is being 
installed on the vehicle today. The second stage will be 
hoisted into position atop the first stage on Friday, Dec. 3. 
The payload fairing will be hoisted and stowed in the 
mobile service tower on Dec. 6. 

	
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