[meteorite-list] Juno/GRAIL/MSL Update - July 15, 2011

[Ron Baalke]

July 15, 2011

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

STATUS REPORT: ELV-071511

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Spacecraft: Juno
Launch Vehicle: Atlas V-551 (AV-029)
Launch Site:  Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Pad:  Space Launch Complex 41
Launch Date:  Aug. 5, 2011
Launch Time: 11:34 a.m. EDT 

At the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space 
Center, Juno has been loaded with its complement of fuel and oxidizer 
propellants. Spin testing was conducted on July 12-13.

At Launch Complex 41, power-on testing for the fully integrated Atlas 
V launch vehicle began on July 5. The Combined Systems Test, a launch 
vehicle electrical test, was performed July 12. The next major test 
of the Atlas V will be the "wet dress rehearsal" on July 19. The 
rocket is fully loaded with liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen and RP-1 
fuel for this test and a full countdown is performed. 

The Juno spacecraft carries two redundant Flux Gate Magnetometer 
instruments that will measure Jupiter's powerful magnetic 
environment. Lab testing of heaters similar to ones on Juno, designed 
to keep the instruments warm in space, indicated a small probability 
that wire connections may not operate as expected. As a precaution, 
NASA and Juno mission personnel decided to inspect the quality of 
Juno's heater elements, and if necessary, repair solder joints 
connecting the heaters' electrical wires to their mounting surfaces 
to ensure mission success. Work is expected to be completed over the 
weekend. The launch period for Juno is not expected to be affected.

Encapsulation of Juno into the payload fairing still is planned for 
Monday. Photos and video will be taken by NASA prior to and during 
the encapsulation process and will be provided to the news media.

Juno then will be transported to the launch pad and attached to the 
rocket on July 26. The launch of Juno aboard a United Launch Alliance 
Atlas V rocket continues to be scheduled for Aug. 5 at 11:34 a.m. 
EDT.

The solar-powered Juno spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times 
to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere 
and magnetosphere. 


Spacecraft: GRAIL (Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7920 Heavy
Launch Site:  Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Pad:  Space Launch Complex 17B
Launch Date:  Sept. 8, 2011
Launch Time: 8:37:06 a.m. EDT and 9:16:12 a.m. EDT 

At Astrotech, cruise phase and science system functional checks of the 
GRAIL spacecraft are finished. A lunar orbit insertion test also has 
been successfully completed. GRAIL is to be moved to a hazardous 
processing facility on Aug. 1 to begin preparations for fueling.

At NASA's Space Launch Complex 17B, the Delta II first and second 
stage control system checks are now complete. The next major activity 
will be cryogenic flow testing on July 21. The first stage will be 
filled with liquid oxygen to check for leaks, and this also will 
serve as a launch team certification.

GRAIL's primary science objectives will be to determine the structure 
of the lunar interior, from crust to core, and to advance 
understanding of the thermal evolution of the moon. 


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 

The Mars Science Laboratory elements consisting of the Curiosity 
rover, cruise stage, descent stage, back shell and heat shield are 
each undergoing checkout and testing. The Curiosity rover will be 
rotated to wheels down, and its instrument mast will be deployed on 
July 19.

The Atlas V for the mission will arrive at Cape Canaveral Air Force 
Station later this month. It will be an Atlas V-541 configuration 
that will have four solid rocket boosters attached.

The rover's 10 science instruments will search for signs of life, 
including methane, and help determine if the gas is from a biological 
or geological source. 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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