SCRUB: Delta 2 - CloudSat and CALIPSO - April 21

[Flightstar]

STATUS REPORT: E05-015

NASA EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT: E05-015

Mission:  Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite
Observations and CloudSat (CALIPSO/CloudSat)
Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta 7420 with Dual Payload Attach Fitting
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: TBD
Launch Window:  5:01 a.m. EST

CALIPSO and CloudSat are installed within the Dual Payload Attach
Fitting. They continue to undergo spacecraft battery charging. The
processing team is maintaining the spacecraft safely inside the
payload facility at Vandenberg. NASA, Boeing and the Air Force are
addressing the problem encountered while testing batteries used for
the flight termination system of the Delta II.

Boeing launch site technicians recently rejected a proposed new
contract. Launch preparations are on hold pending resolution of the
negotiations between Boeing and the union representing the
technicians.

[Chris Bergin]

NASA EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT: E05-018

Mission:  Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite
Observations & CloudSat
Launch Vehicle:  Boeing Delta 7420 with Dual Payload Attach Fitting
Launch Pad:  NASA's Space Launch Complex 2, Vandenberg Air Force Base,
Calif.
Launch Date:  TBD
Launch Window:  5:01 a.m. EST

CALIPSO and CloudSat are installed within the Dual Payload Attach
Fitting at the Astrotech payload processing facilities. The payload
combination will be placed in an environmentally-controlled canister
and installed on the payload transporter for the trip to the launch
pad. Delta II preparations at Complex 2 are on hold until the
payloads arrive for installation on the second stage. Preparations
can resume when the Boeing technicians' strike is resolved.

[Chris Bergin]

STATUS REPORT: ELV-112905

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

MISSION: Cloud-Aerosol Lidar & Infrared Pathfinder Satellite
Observation/CloudSat (CALIPSO/CloudSat)
LAUNCH VEHICLE: Boeing Delta 7420 with Dual Payload Attach Fitting
(DPAF)
LAUNCH PAD: Space Launch Complex 2
LAUNCH SITE: Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), California
LAUNCH DATE: No earlier than February 2006
LAUNCH WINDOW: TBD

Due to a lack of resolution of the Boeing labor strike and other
issues, the CALIPSO/CloudSat launch at Vandenberg Air Force Base will
not occur during December as hoped. The earliest possible launch
timeframe is mid-February 2006. The two spacecrafts are being
prepared for an extended period in the Astrotech payload processing
facilities located on North Vandenberg.

The Western Range will begin a long-planned two-month period of
maintenance, upgrades and refurbishment to the Range Safety tracking
facilities, computers and launch support equipment beginning Dec. 19.
The Navy down range tracking assets deployed from Point Mugu Naval
Air Station in California will also be affected and are required for
support of consecutive multiple launch attempts of CALIPSO-CloudSat.

While progress has been made on the problems encountered during
testing of the Flight Termination System batteries, Boeing has not
yet been able to formally determine and document a root cause of the
problem for engineering review. Approximately 15 days will be
necessary to prepare for launch once all of the above issues are
fully resolved.

[Chris Bergin]

NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report: E06-012


  Mission: CloudSat and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder
  Satellite Observations (CALIPSO)
  Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
  Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta II
  Launch Date: April 21, 2006
  Launch Time: 6:02:08 a.m. EDT



NASA transported CALIPSO and CloudSat from the Astrotech payload processing facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., to the launch complex on April 8. The payload was hoisted and attached to the top of the Delta II rocket.


The Flight Program Verification, an integrated electrical and mechanical flight test involving the Delta II and the CALIPSO/CloudSat payload, was successfully completed today. Following the test, technicians began installation of the launch vehicle ordnance. Payload closeouts are planned for Thursday. Installation of the fairing around the two spacecraft is scheduled for Friday.


  For more information about CALIPSO/CloudSat, visit:

                       http://www.nasa.gov/calipso

                       http://www.nasa.gov/cloudsat

[Chris Bergin]

STATUS REPORT: E06-013

NASA EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT E06-013

Mission:  Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite
Observations (CALIPSO) and CloudSat
Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Vehicle: Boeing Delta II
Launch Date: April 21, 2006
Launch Time: 6:02:08 a.m. EDT

Workers at Space Launch Complex 2 fueled the Delta II second stage
Tuesday for flight with storable hypergolic propellants. Officials
also conducted a launch countdown dress rehearsal.

No significant issues or concerns were found during the Flight
Readiness Review on Monday. Technicians installed the payload fairing
around the two spacecraft on April 14 and are conducting a routine
state-of-health check today.

Plans call for the RP-1 fuel, highly refined kerosene, to be loaded on
the rocket's first stage on Thursday afternoon. Early that evening,
the mobile service tower will be retracted from around the rocket.
Liquid oxygen will be loaded into the first stage during the terminal
countdown sequence that starts at 4 a.m. EDT Friday. There is
currently an 80 percent chance of acceptable weather conditions for
launch.

For more information about CALIPSO/CloudSat, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/calipso or  http://www.nasa.gov/cloudsat

[John44]

Video update

CALIPSO/CloudSat Prelaunch Press Conference April 19

CALIPSO/CloudSat Mission Science Briefing April 19

CALIPSO and CloudSat: Mission, Spacecraft, Science and Technology Webcast
 Webcast NASA (Real Player)

http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=255&Itemid=1

[Chris Bergin]

This will be the live event thread for this launch.

05:02:08 Eastern.
10:02:08 UK time.

[Jim]

http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/elv

is up and running for Delta II  C/C

[Chris Bergin]

Morning. Alarm clock worked, so here we go again

[Chris Bergin]

Joining the A-Train...

[Chris Bergin]

[DaveS]

NASA TV coverage starting in about 3 minutes.

[Chris Bergin]

Cool. Also the GMT time is 10:02, which means the actual UK time is 11:02am I believe.

[Chris Bergin]

[Chris Bergin]