[meteorite-list] NPP/MSL Update - September 30, 2011

[Ron Baalke]

Sept. 30, 2011

Tracy Young
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
tracy.g.young at nasa.gov

STATUS REPORT: ELV-093011

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. 25, 2011
Launch Window: 2:48:01 a.m. - 2:57:11 a.m. PDT
Orbital Altitude:  512 miles 

At Vandenberg Air Force Base, instrument inspection and cleaning of 
the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) spacecraft have been completed. 
NPP spacecraft fuel loading of the hydrazine propellant was completed 
on Sept. 22, and propellant tank pressurization was completed on 
Sept. 24. Electrical Ground Support Equipment was delivered on Sept. 
26 and preparations are under way for a validation test, which 
currently is scheduled for Oct. 4 - 5. The NPP spacecraft will be 
transported to the launch pad for attachment to the Delta II rocket 
on Oct. 7.

United Launch Alliance team members have resumed testing of the Delta 
II rocket at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2. Pneumatic system testing 
on the first and second stages and control system testing was 
completed Sept. 28. The first stage liquid oxygen leak check and 
certification is scheduled to be completed today. This also will 
serve as a crew certification for the countdown on launch day, Oct. 
25.

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 four solid rocket boosters were attached to 
the Atlas first stage booster. The Centaur upper stage was hoisted 
atop the Atlas on Sept. 21. The initial launch vehicle power-on 
activities are planned for this week.

At NASA Kennedy Space Center's Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, 
the team is integrating the spacecraft in preparation for payload 
fairing encapsulation and subsequent attachment to the Atlas V in 
about five weeks. The descent stage to rover mate was completed last 
week. That configuration, known as the powered descent vehicle (PDV), 
was installed in the backshell. The entry vehicle configuration, 
which includes the heat shield, will be completed this week.

Curiosity 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 
	
-end-