LIVE: Atlas V/Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter - June 18, 09

[Stephan]

Now late February 2009, as expected.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/LRO072508.xml

[Stephan]

It seems that the X-37B is replacing LRO :
http://ks37024.kimsufi.com/~minilien/?tdjTHqG7FD

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 08-194

NASA TESTS MOON IMAGING SPACECRAFT AT GODDARD

GREENBELT, Md. -- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, also known as
LRO, has completed the first round of environmental testing at NASA's
Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. These tests ensure the
spacecraft is prepared for its mission to collect the highest
resolution images and most comprehensive geological data set ever
returned from the moon. The objective of the mission is to map the
lunar surface in preparation for human missions to the moon, which
are planned to occur by 2020.

The first two tests for the orbiter were the spin test and vibration
test. The spin test determines the spacecraft's center of gravity and
measures characteristics of its rotation. During vibration testing,
engineers checked the structural integrity of the lunar probe aboard
a large, shaking table that simulated the rigorous ride the orbiter
will encounter during liftoff aboard an Atlas rocket.

"It is during lift-off the spacecraft will be under the most stress,"
said Cathy Peddie, deputy project manager for LRO at Goddard. "We
want to ensure the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter can withstand the
extreme conditions experienced during launch."

The next hurdle for the orbiter is approximately four days of
acoustics testing during which the bagged spacecraft is placed near
multistory, wall-sized speakers that simulate the noise-induced
vibrations of launch. Following acoustics testing, the spacecraft
will undergo a daylong test that simulates the orbiter's separation
from the rocket during launch.

In late August, the spacecraft will begin approximately five weeks of
thermal vacuum testing, which duplicates the extreme hot, cold and
airless conditions of space. During the test, engineers will operate
the orbiter and conduct simulated flight operations while the
spacecraft is subjected to the extreme temperature cycles of the
lunar environment.

By the end of 2008, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will be
transported to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for final
launch preparations. The orbiter and the Lunar Crater Observation and
Sensing Satellite, a mission to impact the moon in search of water
ice, are scheduled to launch atop an Atlas V rocket from Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The launch window opens Feb.
27, 2009, and continues through the end of March.

The seven science instruments aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
will develop highly detailed maps of the lunar surface that provide
data about lunar topography, surface temperature, lighting
conditions, mineralogical composition, and abundance of natural
resources. Information from the robotic spacecraft will be used to
select safe landing sites and assess potential outpost locations for
future human missions to the moon. The spacecraft also will provide
valuable information about the lunar radiation environment, enabling
the development of effective mitigation strategies for human
explorers.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will be in a polar orbit, unlike the
Apollo missions that focused on gaining science from the area around
the moon's equator. The spacecraft will spend at least a year in a
low, polar orbit approximately 30 miles above the lunar surface,
while the instruments work together to collect detailed information
about the lunar environment.

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is building and managing the Lunar
Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission
Directorate in Washington.

For more information about LRO, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/lro

For more information about NASA's exploration plans, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration

[faustod]

The LRO launch is now planned for 24 April, next year.

[rdale]

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20080038058_2008037121.pdf

This viewgraph presentation is an overview of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), with emphasis on the navigation and plans for the mission. The objective of the LRO mission is to conduct investigations that will be specifically target to prepare for and support future human exploration of the Moon. There is a review of the scientific instruments on board the LRO and an overview of the phases of the planned trajectory.

[mikes]

The LRO launch is now planned for 24 April, next year.

Any specific reason, or just general schedule-slip?

[Jim]

Atlas manifest changes and slips

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 08-270

NASA'S NEXT MOON MISSION BEGINS THERMAL VACUUM TEST

GREENBELT, Md. -- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, has
begun environmental testing in a thermal vacuum that simulates the
harsh rigors of space.

The spacecraft, built at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in
Greenbelt, Md., has been lifted into a four-story thermal vacuum
chamber there for a test that will last approximately five weeks.
Once sealed in the chamber, the satellite will undergo a series of
tests that simulate the space environment it will encounter when it
orbits the moon.

During the tests, NASA engineers will operate the spacecraft to ensure
it is performing as planned. The project also will conduct mission
simulations to further train and develop the team that will operate
the spacecraft.

"This is an exciting time for our project," said Cathy Peddie, LRO
deputy project manager at Goddard. "Thermal vacuum testing is one of
our major milestones. Not only are we checking out LRO in a test
facility that most closely matches its final destination, but we are
getting more 'hands-on' time operating LRO as we will see it next
year at the moon."

The orbiter will carry seven instruments to provide scientists with
detailed maps of the lunar surface and enhance our understanding of
the moon's topography, lighting conditions, mineralogical composition
and natural resources. Information gleaned from LRO will be used to
select safe landing sites, determine locations for future lunar
outposts and help to mitigate radiation dangers to astronauts.

The orbiter will be shipped to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida
early next year to be prepared for its April 24 launch aboard an
Atlas V rocket. Accompanying the spacecraft will be the Lunar Crater
Observation and Sensing Satellite, a mission that will impact the
moon's surface in its search for water ice.

For more information about LRO, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/lro   

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 08-335

NEXT NASA MOON MISSION COMPLETES MAJOR MILESTONE

GREENBELT, Md. -- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, has
successfully completed thermal vacuum testing, which simulates the
extreme hot, cold and airless conditions of space LRO will experience
after launch. This milestone concludes the orbiter's environmental
test program at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

The orbiter will carry seven instruments to provide scientists with
detailed maps of the lunar surface and increase our understanding of
the moon's topography, lighting conditions, mineralogical composition
and natural resources. Data returned to Earth from the Lunar
Reconnaissance Orbiter will be used to select safe landing sites,
determine locations for future outposts and help mitigate radiation
dangers to astronauts. The spacecraft will spend at least a year in a
low, polar orbit approximately 30 miles above the lunar surface while
the instruments work together to collect detailed information about
the moon's environment.

The thermal vacuum testing on the spacecraft took about two months.
The orbiter, which was built at Goddard, was subjected to the extreme
temperature cycles of the lunar environment as engineers conducted
simulated flight operations.

"We have cooked LRO, frozen it, shaken it, and blasted it with
electromagnetic waves, and still it operates," said Dave Everett, LRO
mission system engineer at Goddard. "We have performed more than
2,500 hours of powered testing since January, more than 600 of that
in vacuum."

The first two checks were the spin and vibration tests. The spin test
determined the spacecraft's center of gravity and measured
characteristics of its rotation. During vibration testing, engineers
checked the structural integrity of the spacecraft aboard a large,
shaking table that simulated the rigorous ride the orbiter will
encounter during liftoff aboard an Atlas rocket.

Next, the orbiter was subjected to acoustics testing. The bagged
spacecraft was placed near wall-sized speakers that simulate the
noise-induced vibrations of launch. Following acoustics testing, LRO
underwent tests that simulated the orbiter's separation from the
rocket during launch. The spacecraft also underwent electromagnetic
compatibility testing to ensure internal and external electrical
signals do not interfere with its critical functions.

"It was less than one year ago that LRO was a myriad collection of
parts not yet delivered to our clean room," said Craig Tooley, LRO
project manager at Goddard. "This truly is a significant
accomplishment -- a hard earned milestone. It is a humbling and
awe-inspiring experience to work with the LRO team."

LRO will be shipped to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida in early
2009 to be prepared for its April 24 launch aboard an Atlas V rocket.
Accompanying the spacecraft will be the Lunar Crater Observation and
Sensing Satellite, a mission that will impact the moon's surface in
its search for water ice.

Goddard is building and managing the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter for
NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in Washington.

[Analyst]

Is this still on track for late April? Should be delivered to the Cape about now. Why do I have the feeling this flight will slip because of a combination of payload and launch vehicle problems.

Analyst

[Jim]

early Feb

[wannamoonbase]

www.spaceflightnow.com indicates 'April 24?' on their launch schedule.

? on a launch very seldom means a move to the left is probably.  So from that it looks like April 24th or later.

[Analyst]

Jim talks about delivery to the Cape.

Analyst

[William Graham]

www.spaceflightnow.com indicates 'April 24?' on their launch schedule.

? on a launch very seldom means a move to the left is probably.  So from that it looks like April 24th or later.

The last I heard was 25 April, 00:00 GMT.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Per Twitter, LRO is headed to the Cape:

I'm in my shipping container ready to be taken to KSC tonite.

http://twitter.com/LRO_NASA

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 09-030

NASA LUNAR SPACECRAFT SHIPS SOUTH IN PREPARATION FOR LAUNCH

GREENBELT, Md. -- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO,
spacecraft was loaded on a truck Wednesday to begin its two-day
journey to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Launch is targeted
for April 24.

The spacecraft was built by engineers at Goddard, where it recently
completed two months of tests in a thermal vacuum chamber. During its
time in the chamber, the spacecraft was subjected to hot and cold
temperatures it will experience as it orbits the moon.

The satellite's mission is one of the first steps in NASA's plan to
return astronauts to the moon. LRO will spend at least one year in a
low polar orbit on its primary exploration mission, with the
possibility of three more years to collect additional detailed
scientific information about the moon and its environment.

The orbiter will carry seven instruments to provide scientists with
detailed maps of the lunar surface and enhance our understanding of
the moon's topography, lighting conditions, mineralogical composition
and natural resources. Information gleaned from LRO will be used to
select safe landing sites, determine locations for future lunar
outposts and help mitigate radiation dangers to astronauts. The polar
regions of the moon are the main focus of the mission because
continuous access to sunlight may be possible and water ice may exist
in permanently shadowed areas of the poles.

"This is the culmination of four years of hard work by everyone on the
LRO Project," said Cathy Peddie, LRO deputy project manager at NASA's
Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "LRO now begins its
launch site processing, where it will be prepped for integration with
our sister mission LCROSS, and eventually encapsulated in the Atlas V
for its journey to the moon."

LRO's instruments have considerable heritage from previous planetary
science missions, enabling the spacecraft to transition to a research
phase under the direction of NASA's Science Mission Directorate one
year after launch.

Accompanying LRO on its journey to the moon will be the Lunar Crater
Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, a mission that will
impact the lunar surface in its search for water ice. The LCROSS
mission is managed by NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field,
Calif.

Goddard manages the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's
Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in Washington.

For more information about LRO, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/lro

[John B]

May 7 is the new NET.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Per twitter

LRO_NASA I'm on my way to KSC today.

[Ronsmytheiii]

LRO in its shipping container arriving at Astrotech in Titusville, Fla:

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4

[Ford Mustang]

Mission: Lunar Recommaissance Orbiter (LRO/LCROSS)
Launch Vehicle: Atlas V
Launch Pad: Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Date: Targeted for April 24, 2009
Launch Time: TBD

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, spacecraft was loaded on
a truck Wednesday at Goddard Spaceflight Center in Greenbelt,
Maryland, to begin its two-day journey to the Astrotech Facility in
Titusville, Florida. The spacecraft's electronic ground support
equipment, comprised of the ground data system, and electrical and
mechanical ground support equipment, arrived at Astrotech on Tuesday.
Workers uncrated and cleaned the equipment to prepare for LRO's
arrival.

The LRO arrived at Astrotech Friday morning. Technicians uncrated the
spacecraft on Saturday, then attach and deploy the solar arrays and
performed a spacecraft activation test Sunday.

The Centaur stage is scheduled to arrive at Cap Canaveral Air Force
Station on Feb. 20 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Offloading will begin
on Feb. 21.

There is no formal request to NASA from United Launch Alliance, or
ULA, to change the launch date of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
from April 24. Informal discussions are ongoing between NASA, ULA and
the Air Force to understand the needs of ULA's launch clients,
including the Air Force and its Wideband Global Satcom spacecraft.
LRO and LCROSS continue to work towards the earliest possible launch
date until a formal determination can be made otherwise.