[meteorite-list] GRAIL/NPP/MSL Update - September 12, 2011

[Ron Baalke]

Sept. 12, 2011

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

STATUS REPORT: ELV-091211

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

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. 10, 2011


Atop the Delta II rocket, GRAIL was launched successfully from Pad 17B 
on Sept. 10 at 9:08:52 a.m. After GRAIL-A and GRAIL-B separated from 
the Delta II's second stage, the Deep Space Network's Goldstone 
tracking station acquired them as planned. It verified that solar 
arrays were deployed and both GRAIL spacecraft were operating 
normally.

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


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 (9 min., 10 sec.)
Orbital Altitude:  512 miles 

At Vandenberg Air Force Base, the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) 
spacecraft has completed the Spacecraft Limited Performance Test. A 
Spacecraft Launch Simulation also has been completed. Instrument 
testing now is under way, and propulsion system testing also is 
occurring this week.

With the successful launch of GRAIL at Cape Canaveral, United Launch 
Alliance team members will be returning to Vandenberg to resume 
testing of the Delta II for the NPP mission at NASA's Space Launch 
Complex 2.

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 

The Atlas first stage booster for the Atlas V rocket was transported 
to Launch Complex 41 on Sept. 8 and hoisted inside the Vertical 
Integration Facility. The solid rocket boosters are being attached 
this week. This is an Atlas V-541 configuration that will have four 
solid rocket boosters attached Sept. 12-15.

The Centaur upper stage will be moved to the launch complex and 
hoisted atop the Atlas on Sept. 20.

At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility located at Kennedy Space 
Center, testing and prelaunch preparations for the Curiosity rover 
and the associated Mars Science Laboratory flight hardware continue.

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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