Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report

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Dec. 4, 2008

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

STATUS REPORT: ELV-120408

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Mission: Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) 
Launch Vehicle: Taurus XL (Orbital Sciences) 
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 576-E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, 
Calif. 
Launch Date: No Earlier Than Jan. 30, 2009 
Launch Window: TBD 

The work to prepare the OCO spacecraft for launch continues to go 
well. Testing of the spacecraft systems and science instruments is 
complete. The next step is to fuel the spacecraft and perform flight 
battery reconditioning.

Testing and prelaunch preparations continue on the Taurus launch 
vehicle by Orbital Sciences in Hangar 1555 on north Vandenberg. 
Launch vehicle flight simulations are scheduled to begin during the 
third week of December.

Some additional testing is being performed on the electronics control 
unit (ECU) on the first stage deemed appropriate to assure the 
vehicle is fully flight qualified. Approximately two weeks of 
additional time in the schedule is necessary to accommodate the 
testing. The launch is now targeted for no earlier than Jan. 30 and 
is subject to the availability of the Western Range. 



Mission: NOAA-N Prime 
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320 
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 2, Vandenberg AFB 
Launch Date: Feb. 4, 2009 
Launch Window: 2:22:01 - 2:32:01 a.m. PST 

Stacking of the Delta II rocket at Space Launch Complex 2 began this 
week. The first stage was installed into the launcher on Dec. 2. The 
three solid rocket boosters were attached around the base of the 
first stage the following day. The second stage will be hoisted atop 
the first stage on Friday, Dec. 5. Also this week, the payload 
fairing that will encapsulate NOAA-N prime was installed into the 
clean room within the mobile service tower.

NOAA-N Prime spacecraft testing and processing activities continue. 
Flight antenna installations are planned for Dec. 6. Instrument 
inspections and cleaning are scheduled for next week. 

Previous status reports are available at:

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

	
-end-



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