[meteorite-list] Aquarius/Juno/GRAIL/MSL Update - June 17, 2011

[Ron Baalke]

June 17, 2011

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

STATUS REPORT: ELV-061711

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Spacecraft: Aquarius
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320 (Delta 354)
Launch Site:  Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Pad:  Space Launch Complex 2
Altitude/Inclination: 408.2 statute miles/98 degrees 

At Vandenberg Air Force Base, the United Launch Alliance Delta II 
rocket with Aquarius/SAC-B was successfully launched from NASA's 
Space Launch Complex 2 on June 10 at 7:20:13.572 a.m. PDT. The first 
telemetry data showed the observatory to be in excellent health. The 
initial checkout phase now is under way and requires about 25 days.

The Aquarius/SAC-D mission is a collaboration between NASA and 
Argentina's space agency with participation by Brazil, Canada, France 
and Italy. NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center 
in Florida managed the launch. United Launch Alliance of Denver, 
Colo., is NASA's launch service provider of the Delta II 7320. 


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: 11:39 a.m. EDT 

At the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space 
Center, Juno's Advanced Stellar Compass is undergoing testing. The 
spacecraft's main engine assembly and rocket engine modules 
successfully completed a functional test earlier this week. Thermal 
blanket closeouts continue.

At Launch Complex 41, the Atlas V first stage booster was hoisted into 
position on the launcher in the Vertical Integration Facility on June 
13. The first of five solid rocket boosters was attached on June 15. 
The Centaur upper stage will be brought to the launch pad the last 
week of June.

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, GRAIL spacecraft functional testing is complete. The 
flight batteries were installed June 14. The spacecraft's solar 
arrays were attached June 15. Installation of thermal blankets 
continues.

At NASA's Space Launch Complex 17B, the first stage propulsion and 
pneumatic system functional checks began on June 15. Electrical and 
hydraulic checkout of the rocket will begin June 22. This will be 
followed on June 27 by functional checks of the second stage 
propulsion and pneumatic systems.

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 

At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at KSC, the spacecraft 
aeroshell was spin-tested on June 10. Installation of the solar 
arrays onto the cruise stage is planned for completion Friday. The 
Atlas V for the Mars Science Laboratory will arrive this summer. The 
Atlas V-541 configuration being used for Mars Science Laboratory 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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