FAILED: Taurus XL - OCO - Feb 23/24, 09.

[faustod]

The Taurus XL Stages and motors have been moved into Orbital Sciences' Hangar 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The Taurus XL will launch NASA's OCO, spacecraft.

Images from NASA KSC Multimedia.
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=187

[edkyle99]

Interesting.  The most recent images show a first stage motor labeled "C120-018", presumably indicating the 18th Castor 120 motor.  Previous images showed a Taurus being moved into the 1555 building this past summer.  That Castor 120 looked different, and sported a "BF-009" number.  Is it the same motor repainted, or a different motor altogether?  Perhaps the mid-summer vehicle was a pathfinder, since it has been more than four years since one of these things flew.

EDIT:  Answering my own question, the mid-summer images show the first, second, and third stages of the Taurus XL.  The November images show the arrival of the Castor 120 motor, which is "Stage Zero".  (It has been four years since *I've* seen one of these things too!)

 - Ed Kyle

[Ronsmytheiii]

Hmm, there are images up for Taurus 3110 and NOAA-N' Prime, yet it seems that TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 have nothing up, how is processing for that Minotaur mission?

[Antares]

That Minotaur mission is not a NASA-procured launch, hence no pictures at that site.

[antonioe]

I may also add, we've shipped the OCO spacecraft to Vandenberg:

http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/release.asp?prid=677

Once again, an Orbital-designed and -build spacecraft is launched on an Orbital-designed and -built LV.  And, remember, Launch Vehicle's aren't much of end product unless there is a spacecraft to be launched by them! 

By the way, DWT regards OCO as perhaps "the most important spacecraft Orbital ever built, given its long-term impact on the quality of life here on Earth".

[kevin-rf]

By the way, DWT regards OCO as perhaps "the most important spacecraft Orbital ever built, given its long-term impact on the quality of life here on Earth".

Shame on DWT, putting the earth ahead of profits What have you been slipping in his coolaid?

[antonioe]

Like many former staunch republicans, the last eight years have shaken him considerably... he has been seen meeting in a dark alley with... gulp!  Al Gore!!!

[jacqmans]

STATUS REPORT: ELV-111808

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Mission: Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO)
Launch Vehicle: Taurus XL (Orbital Sciences)
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 756-E, Vandenberg Air Force Base,
Calif.
Launch Date: NET Jan. 15, 2009
Launch Window: TBD

The Orbiting Carbon Observatory arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base
on Nov. 11. It was shipped from spacecraft facilities in Dulles, Va.,
by Orbital Sciences, builder of the spacecraft. The following day it
was removed from its shipping container and placed on a test stand at
the Astrotech payload processing facility located on north
Vandenberg. On Nov. 13, the protective coverings over the spacecraft
were removed so that processing could begin.

Processing of the Taurus launch vehicle is under way by Orbital
Sciences in Hangar 1555 on north Vandenberg. Installation of the UHF
communications antenna occurred this week. Telemetry testing is
scheduled for next week. Thermal protection system insulation and
electrical work is also under way on "Stage 0." Preparations are also
under way at the launch pad to prepare it to receive Stage 0 next
month.

Some additional tests need to be performed on the electronics control
unit (ECU) on the first stage. These additional tests are deemed
necessary for the vehicle to be fully flight qualified. It is not
clear yet how much time this will take, but it is expected to affect
the planned launch date of mid-January. Coordination with the Western
Range will also be necessary to determine the earliest launch date
available.

[jacqmans]

STATUS REPORT: ELV-112108

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. 15, 2009
Launch Window: TBD

The Orbiting Carbon Observatory arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base,
Calif., on Nov. 11. It was shipped from spacecraft facilities in
Dulles, Va., by Orbital Sciences, builder of the spacecraft. The
following day it was removed from its shipping container and placed
on a test stand at the Astrotech payload processing facility located
on north Vandenberg.

On Nov. 13, the protective coverings over the spacecraft were removed
so that processing could begin. Blanket preparations and edge taping
on the spacecraft were completed and final closeouts began Nov. 19.
Mechanical preparations and work on the electronic ground support
equipment were completed today. A protective covering was placed
around the spacecraft.

Processing of the Taurus launch vehicle is under way by Orbital
Sciences in Hangar 1555 on north Vandenberg. Installation of the UHF
communications antenna occurred this week. Telemetry testing is
scheduled for next week. Thermal protection system insulation and
electrical work is also under way on "Stage 0." Preparations are also
under way at the launch pad to prepare it to receive Stage 0 next
month.

Some additional tests need to be performed on the electronics control
unit, or ECU, on the first stage. These additional tests are deemed
necessary for the vehicle to be fully flight qualified. It is not
clear yet how much time this will take, but it is expected to affect
the planned launch date of mid-January. Coordination with the Western
Range will also be necessary to determine the earliest launch date
available.

[jacqmans]

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.

[jacqmans]

STATUS REPORT: ELV-121708

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: Feb. 23, 2009
Launch Time: 1:53 a.m. PST (tentative)

Due to the availability of the Western Range, the launch of OCO is
being rescheduled to Feb. 23. A new schedule of spacecraft and launch
vehicle processing is currently being developed to support that date.

The work to prepare the OCO spacecraft for launch has gone well.
Fueling the spacecraft is expected to occur during the week of Jan.
12.

Testing and prelaunch preparations continue on the Taurus launch
vehicle by Orbital Sciences in Hangar 1555 on north Vandenberg.
Loading of software into the Taurus flight computer is under way this
week.

[jacqmans]

Mission: Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO)
Launch Vehicle: Taurus XL (Orbital Sciences)
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 576-E, Vandenberg AFB
Launch Date: February 23, 2009
Launch Time: 1:50:29 a.m. PST

The work to prepare the OCO spacecraft for launch will resume with
preparations for fueling, currently planned for Saturday. Fueling the
spacecraft will then be performed next week. A spacecraft limited
performance test will follow. The operation to install the payload
fairing around the spacecraft is scheduled to begin Feb. 9.

Testing and prelaunch preparations continue on the Taurus launch
vehicle by Orbital Sciences in Hangar 1555 on north Vandenberg. A
launch vehicle verification test will be performed on Jan. 12 with a
flight simulation planned for Jan. 15.

[jacqmans]

Mission: Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO)
Launch Vehicle: Taurus XL (Orbital Sciences)
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 576-E, Vandenberg AFB
Launch Date: Feb. 23, 2009
Launch Time: 1:51 a.m. PST (7 min., 30 sec. launch window)

In the Astrotech payload processing facility, fueling of the OCO
spacecraft was completed this week as planned. The spacecraft will be
placed into the payload fairing on Feb. 7.

On the Taurus launch vehicle in Building 1555 on north Vandenberg, a
flight simulation test is scheduled for Jan. 19. Stage 1 is then
planned to be mated to Stage 2 on Jan. 22.

Stage 0, the stage providing the initial liftoff thrust, will be
hoisted into position at the launch pad on Jan. 28. The payload/upper
launch vehicle integrated stack is planned to be hoisted on top of
Stage 0 on Feb. 16.

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M09-014

NASA TO HOLD MEDIA BRIEFING ABOUT NEW GLOBAL CARBON DIOXIDE MISSION

WASHINGTON -- NASA will hold a media briefing on Thursday, Jan. 29, at
11 a.m. EST to discuss the upcoming Orbiting Carbon Observatory
mission, the first NASA spacecraft dedicated to studying carbon
dioxide. The televised briefing will take place in the James E. Webb
Memorial Auditorium at NASA Headquarters, 300 E St. S.W., Washington.


Set for launch Feb. 23 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California,
the experimental Orbiting Carbon Observatory will map the global
distribution of carbon dioxide, the leading human-produced greenhouse
gas driving changes in Earth's climate.

The briefing participants are:
- Eric Ianson, Orbiting Carbon Observatory program executive, Science
Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
- David Crisp, Orbiting Carbon Observatory principal investigator,
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
- Charles Miller, Orbiting Carbon Observatory deputy principal
investigator, JPL
- Ralph Basilio, Orbiting Carbon Observatory deputy project manager,
JPL
- Anna Michalak, Orbiting Carbon Observatory science team member,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA locations or by
telephone. To reserve a telephone line, contact J.D. Harrington by
e-mail at j.d.harrington@nasa.gov.

For more information about NASA TV downlink and streaming video,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/oco

[bad_astra]

Go Orbital!