Parker Solar Probe’s Launch Vehicle Rises at Space Launch Complex 37On the morning of Tuesday, April 17, 2018, crews from United Launch Alliance raised the 170-foot tall Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle – the largest and most powerful rocket currently used by NASA – at Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. This Delta IV Heavy will carry Parker Solar Probe, humanity’s first mission to the Sun’s corona, on its journey to explore the Sun’s atmosphere and the solar wind. Launch is scheduled for approximately 4 a.m. EDT on July 31, 2018.The launch vehicle consists of three Common Booster Cores, with a second stage on the center core; the encapsulated spacecraft, is scheduled to arrive in early July for integration onto the rocket. The spacecraft is now at Astrotech Space Operations in nearby Titusville undergoing final integration and testing. Parker Solar Probe will be the fastest human-made object in the solar system, traveling at speeds of up to 430,000 miles per hour (700,000 kilometers per hour).By Geoff BrownJohns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Cost and Schedule StatusThe PSP project continues to target an August 2018planetary launch, but the project is encountering anumber of technical issues that may lead to a scheduledelay. Maintaining the project’s 2018 launch window isimportant because a potential window only opens every10 months. The 2019 launch window would result in alonger mission duration and require more fuel, and afterthat, the next window that meets requirements is 2023.The project continues to hold schedule reserves at AppliedPhysics Laboratory-recommended levels, but the projectis tracking a risk that there may not be adequate reservesto address any future issues that may arise. The project isalso tracking a risk that it may exhaust its cost reserves infiscal year 2018 addressing instrument issues and retainingproject staff, which could lead to the need for additionalheadquarters-held cost reserves.LaunchIn September 2017, while testing the interface betweenthe launch vehicle and the spacecraft, three of the sixseparation nuts failed to release their bolts. If this occurredduring launch, it would result in a total mission failure.NASA’s Launch Services Program, which obtained launchservices for PSP, initiated an anomaly investigation. Thisinvestigation determined that the bolts were improperlyinstalled. The investigation board identified correctiveactions, which have passed initial tests. The separationsystem plan includes completing qualification testing byApril 2018 and includes schedule margin. However, ifadditional issues are identified, the project could potentiallymiss the 2018 launch window.Integration and TestThe Solar Probe Cup (SPC), which is part of an instrumentpackage necessary to meet top-level mission requirementsto gather information about particles in the solar wind, hasencountered several technical issues during integrationand testing. For example, recent testing has identifiedscenarios where the spacecraft’s different operatingtemperature environments could result in twisting betweenthe SPC and spacecraft, which could lead to cracks overtime. To mitigate this risk, the project is conducting testingto determine the scope of this issue. If twisting could occurrepeatedly throughout the mission, the project will considerde-scoping the SPC, which would require approval fromNASA. The project plans to make a decision in March 2018about whether to fly the SPC.Other Issues to Be MonitoredThe project is tracking a risk that an alloy used in severallocations on the spacecraft will release gases whenexposed to the high temperatures found where thespacecraft is intended to operate. The released gases canlater re-solidify and contaminate the spacecraft. The alloy isfound in three locations, supporting two instrument suites,on the spacecraft—the four FIELDS whip antennas, theirrespective thermal shields, and the SPC thermal shield—which are required to meet top-level mission requirements.Testing to understand the alloy’s performance revealedthat the alloy released gases even at temperatures muchcooler than where the spacecraft will operate. The projectis pursuing two mitigations. First, it is conducting tests todevelop a contamination model, which should indicatethe effects, if any, the re-solidified gases have on thespacecraft and help project officials determine if it is safeto fly the spacecraft with the existing alloy. Second, officialstold us that they have ordered new material which couldbe used to replace the four FIELDS whip antennas and theSPC thermal shield. The project plans to make a decisionif they will replace existing parts with the new material byFebruary 2018. The project cannot replace the FIELDSthermal shields, so they have designed and implementedan additional shield, which will undergo testing in March2018.
Does the SLC-37B MST provide enough protection for PSP’s delicate instruments if a launch (Merah Putih) is taking place next door at SLC-40? I realize it’s better than the rocket being exposed on the pad but we are talking about a $1.5B science payload.
Launch slipping 4 days to Aug 4 according to NASA...https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/revised-launch-date-targeted-for-parker-solar-probe