[meteorite-list] Aquarius/Juno/GRAIL/MSL Update - May 12, 2011

[Ron Baalke]

May 12, 2011

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

STATUS REPORT: ELV-051211

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Spacecraft: Aquarius
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Site:  Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Pad:  Space Launch Complex 2
Launch Date:  June 9, 2011
Launch Window: 7:20:13 - 7:25:13 a.m. PDT
Altitude/Inclination: 408.2 statute miles/98 degrees 

At Vandenberg Air Force Base, loading the spacecraft with its attitude 
control propellant was done May 11. Thursday, the spacecraft is being 
mated to the payload attach fitting. The assembly later will mate to 
the Delta II rocket.

At NASA's Space Launch Complex 2, the Delta II first stage was loaded 
with liquid oxygen and a countdown test conducted on May 11. 
Thursday, a Simulated Flight test is being run. This is an electrical 
and mechanical test of the launch vehicle's systems that will be 
exercised in the same sequence as they will operate during the actual 
powered flight.

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 is managing 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
Launch Site:  Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Pad:  Space Launch Complex 41
Launch Date:  Aug. 5, 2011
Launch Time: 11:40 a.m. EDT 

This week a cruise system verification test was conducted, and a 
Jupiter orbit insertion system verification test was also completed. 
The work to install the three solar arrays begins May 13. Later in 
processing, the magnetometer will be installed; a solar array 
illumination test and a magnetometer boom deployment test also are 
planned.

The solar-powered Juno spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 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. and 9:16:12 a.m. EDT 

At NASA's Space Launch Complex 17B, the second stage was hoisted atop 
the first stage of the Delta II rocket on May 10. The payload fairing 
is being raised into the white room of the mobile service tower 
today. The launch vehicle electrical, mechanical and propulsion 
system testing will begin on May 20. The solid rocket motor thruster 
installation and alignment has been completed.

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
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 cruise stage, back shell and heat shield for the Mars Science 
Laboratory payload arrived at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing 
Facility aboard an Air Force C-17 cargo plane on Thursday evening. 
These are the first flight elements to arrive for the Mars Science 
Laboratory mission. These elements were taken to the Payload 
Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) located in the KSC Industrial 
Area to begin processing. The Curiosity rover will arrive next month.

The rover's 10 science instruments will search for habitable 
environments on Mars that could support life, past or present. 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, as well as sophisticated chemistry experiments and 
high-powered microscopes. 

Previous status reports are available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/index.html 
	
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