POES Launch Update

 

2/03/09 - Countdown began this evening with spacecraft power on at approximately 2000 PST.  Overnight the planned operations on the spacecraft will be CPU loading, fight enable, thruster enable and ordnance plug installations.  Final spacecraft closeouts and fairing flight door sealing are scheduled to begin around 0730 PST Tuesday and be completed by 1000 PST. Liftoff is scheduled for 02:22:01 am PST Wednesday morning.

 

The weather forecast is favorable for the Wednesday morning launch attempt, but degrades considerably for the rest of the week.  There is a Pacific storm headed this way.  February 4th: T-0 Probability of Violation:  20% due to Surface Winds. 24 Hour Scrub POV:  80% due to Surface Winds, Thick Clouds, and Moderate Precipitation

 

For countdown status call one of the following phone numbers:

NOAA-N Prime launch hotline:

301-352-4805

Laurie Kleppin will be updating

KSC launch status line: 

805-734-2693

George Diller from KSC public affairs will be updating

GSFC launch status:

301-286-NEWS option 2

Cynthia O'Carroll from GSFC public affairs will be updating

 

If you would like to monitor the countdown clock and events, go to the following website for a live clock and video feed:  http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/elv/index-vafb.html

 

1/23/09 - On Friday the separation system ordnance connections were completed.  The firing harness was routed from the Delta II second stage to the spacecraft payload attach fitting and subsequently mated to the clamp band separation system initiators.  Separation system catcher closeouts will be completed on Saturday along with various mechanical and thermal flight closeout activities in preparation for Fairing installation.  Pre encapsulation technical and management walk downs are scheduled for 12 hours beginning at 1400 PST Monday and Fairing installation is scheduled to begin early Tuesday morning.

 

1/21/09-1/22/09 – Early Wednesday the crews performed link verification testing of the SBA, SLA and SOA antennas.  Early Thursday, the crews re-verified the links on three S-Band Antennas after some minor cable dressing and subsequently proceeded into power configuration steps for Flight Program Testing with the launch vehicle.  Thursday’s day shift successfully executed all powered sequences in support of the Flight Program Test.

 

1/20/09 - Spacecraft processing resumed in the white room on Tuesday with deconfiguration from Aliveness Testing and configuration for Link Checks.  Activities completed today included thermal blanket dressing, preload instrumentation wire clipping, Omni antenna installations & mates, and NFI removals for flight. Power up for antenna link checks is planned for Tuesday evening with the testing taking the majority of night shift.  Expect spacecraft power off by 0700 PST Wednesday.

 

1/17/09-1/19/09 – Battery charging completed on schedule Saturday morning followed by Aliveness test preparations through the remainder of day shift. Aliveness Testing began at approximately 1530 hrs PST Saturday and was successfully executed over Saturday/Sunday.  All flags have been cleared and no flight hardware anomalies have been noted at this time.  NASA/GSFC and Lockheed systems engineering approved powering down the spacecraft following the additional planned SATCU run time testing. SC Power remained on until 0700 PST Monday morning. Monday is reserved for crew rest and any additional data analysis required post Aliveness.

 

1/16/09 - The contamination shroud was removed from the spacecraft today and launch pad testing configuration activities commenced.  All were completed successfully and battery charge was initiated late this afternoon.

 

1/15/09 - Today the spacecraft was successfully transported to SLC 2 and mated to the Delta II launch vehicle.  The transport canister has been removed, white room environments established and post mate operations are continuing by the ULA Team. A small spacecraft monitor team will remain this evening for inspections during the mate of the umbilical connections and installation of the level 6 access platforms.  Operations are expected to complete sometime before 2300 hours PST. On Friday crews will set up equipment and begin mechanical configurations.  Battery charge is scheduled to start approximately 1600 hours PST.  This activity will run until Saturday morning. Saturday day shift will begin preparations and configuration for the upcoming Aliveness Test.

 

1/14/09 - The Transport Can section installations were completed and the contamination barriers were installed.  The spacecraft was subsequently lifted to the transporter and all purge systems were established.  The Launch Site Readiness Review (LSRR) was conducted at SLC-2W today and all agencies gave the go ahead for spacecraft mating to the launch vehicle.  All systems are go for transport to the launch pad early AM tomorrow.  Weather predictions are for clear skies, cool temps and light winds.

1/13/09 - The Spacecraft Transportation Can installation was started today by ULA.  The entire can is now assembled around the spacecraft and final torquing and wrapping will be performed on Wednesday.  Transfer of the spacecraft to transporter is also planned for Wednesday.  The Vandenberg NASA TM Station, EGSE Crew, and SOCC successfully completed the Stored TIP (STIP) data dump and data processing from the orbital pass of NOAA-18 over VAFB today.  This test was used to verify the process and configurations for acquiring first pass data following the launch of NOAA-N Prime.

 

1/12/09 - Today the crews installed the Halo/Contamination Barrier onto the spacecraft in preparation for transport to the launch pad.  The second half of the day the crew worked with ULA to install the Direct Mate Adapter (DMA) onto the Delta PAF and set up all integrated transportation purges.  In parallel all required ground equipment and flight hardware was packaged and prepared for transport to the launch pad.

 

1/9/09-1/11/09 – Pre-transport inspections and closeouts continued today and are expected to be completed sometime Saturday.  The GRU rack was transported and installed at the SLC-2 EEB.  GRU checkout is ongoing and is expected to be completed late tonight or on Saturday.  Saturday morning will be spent completing any remaining closeout/inspections and engineering photos.  Media photos will be taken in the afternoon.  Sunday is a planned crew rest day.

 

1/8/09 - Battery discharge was completed Thursday evening at approximately 10:30 PM PST.  Following approval from systems engineering, the test setup was de-configured and the Ground Reconditioning Unit (GRU) rack was staged for transport to SLC-2 on Friday (1/9) morning.

 

1/7/09 - Battery discharge is continuing with no issues noted.  Completion of discharge is still expected sometime Friday (1/9) morning.

 

1/6/09 - Battery charge, Solar Array Illumination, and CPU1 testing were all completed today.  All regression tests indicated nominal results. Battery discharge began at 1:45 am PST Wednesday morning and is expected to complete sometime Friday morning.

 

1/5/09 - Processing resumed today at VAFB with the remainder of the flight harness mates and battery charge test setup completed.  Battery charge is in progress and is expected to be completed early on Tuesday morning.  The required regression testing, which includes Solar Array Illumination, CPU 1 testing and battery discharge, will begin following the completion of battery charge. Pre-canning inspections will take place this weekend.  Spacecraft transport to the pad is on schedule for Thursday January 15th.  The launch remains on schedule for February 4th 2009.

 

1/1/09-1/4/09 – Holiday Break

 

12/31/08 - The remainder of the Micro Energy harness testing was completed today with no faults found in the harness.   Following completion of that test, the spacecraft return to flight configuration and the battery charge test setup was started.

 

12/30/08 – The new HI-Pot/Isolation (Micro Energy) test of the mast harness was started today and is expected to be completed Wednesday morning.

12/29/08 - Spacecraft processing resumed at VAFB today to continue investigations related to the Solar Array Diode anomaly.  The crew prepared the spacecraft and measurement equipment for the new HI-Pot/Isolation test of the mast harness.  Testing is expected to begin on Tuesday morning.

12/25/08 – 12/28/08 - Holiday Shutdown

12/21/08 – 12/24/08 - The EGSE Team successfully completed all setup and checkout activities of the LSE at SLC 2 as planned.  Any remaining checkouts will be completed once spacecraft testing in Bldg. 1610 has concluded.  Planning efforts have resulted in the approval of a new Hi-Pot/Isolation test on the mast harness that involves use of a localized Helium environment around the harness.  It is believed that this test is more sensitive and may reveal a shorting path if one is present.  A test team is being assembled to come in during the holiday break to conduct the test.  Actual test activities will be executed the week of Monday, December 29th and continuing until testing is complete and the spacecraft is returned to flight configuration.  Current estimates are approximately three days of activities.

12/20/08 - The decision was made to suspend spacecraft processing at VAFB until additional harness testing is planned and approved.  This planning will take place on Monday and Tuesday of next week.  Spacecraft processing at VAFB will resume on Monday 12/29.  The removed SATCU was opened and inspected in Sunnyvale.  No anomalous conditions were identified.  The LSE Checkout at SLC2 is continuing according to schedule.  The EGSE team will remain here at the base, taking Sunday off and continuing operations on Monday.  Support is in place for Tuesday as a contingency.

12/19/08 - The team successfully removed and SATCU from the spacecraft and replaced it with a spare unit.  The removed unit will undergo bench inspections in Sunnyvale beginning tomorrow.  The LSE checkout at SLC2 is continuing.

12/18/08 - The Hi-Pot/Isolation testing of the flight solar array mast harness was successfully completed today.  The Launch Site Equipment (LSE) racks were shipped out to the launch pad today.  The LSE racks and Test Calibration Unit (TCU) were positioned in the Electrical Equipment Building (EEB), Missile Service Tower (MST) and Remote Launch Control Center (RLCC).  Testing of this equipment will begin on Friday and is expected to be completed by Tuesday.

12/17/08 - The Hi-Pot/Isolation testing of the ground support measurement equipment was successfully completed today.  All test equipment is ready for actual measurements of the harness conductors, scheduled to begin Thursday morning.

12/16/08 - The additional measurements requested as part of the harness continuity test were completed this morning and yielded nominal results.  Incorporation of the technical and safety comments for the Hi-Pot /Isolation test was also completed and the document is in the approval process. Setup is expected to be completed today with hazardous operations beginning on Wednesday.

12/15/08 - The continuity test was executed successfully today. Several additional measurements were requested as a result of the data review.  These measurements are planned for tomorrow morning.  The technical review of the Hi-Pot/Isolation test paperwork was completed this evening.  Comments from the technical review will be incorporated on Tuesday. Testing is expected to begin on Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday.

12/13/08 – 12/14/08 - The review/release of the harness continuity test paperwork was completed on Saturday morning.  De-mating of the remaining flight connections between the harness and spacecraft was also completed followed by connection of the ground support measurement equipment.  Sunday was a crew rest day.

12/12/08 - Today was spent preparing paperwork and test equipment for the Continuity and Hi-Pot/Isolation testing of the Solar Array Mast Harness.  Testing is planned to begin on Saturday afternoon.

12/11/08 - Inspections of the remaining SEM components were completed successfully (TED & MEPED).  No issues were noted.  Spacecraft thermal blanket inspections are in progress.

12/10/08 - EUMETSAT, Lockheed Martin and GSFC instrument personnel completed the MHS instrument inspections on Wednesday.  No issues were noted.  SEM instrument (TED, MEPED) inspections are planned for Thursday.

 

12/9/08 - Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and GSFC personnel completed the inspections and flight closeouts of the AMSU-A1 and A2 instruments.  All inspection data was nominal and no additional cleaning was required.  The flight OSR panel was also installed on the AMSU-A1.  SBUV instrument inspections were also completed today. EUMETSAT personnel are at VAFB and will perform MHS instrument inspections on Wednesday.

12/8/08 - ITT personnel completed the inspections and cleaning of the HIRS and AVHRR instruments.  All inspection data was nominal and minimal cleaning was required.  The flight Glint Shield was also installed on the AVHRR.  Northrop Grumman personnel are at VAFB and will perform the AMSU-A1 and A2 inspections and cleaning on Tuesday.

12/6/08 – 12/7/08 - Clamp band catcher system buildup continued on Saturday and was completed around noon on Sunday.  Instrument inspections and cleaning are up next starting Monday morning.  Instrument vendors will be at VAFB to support this effort.

12/5/08 - ESA cleaning and clamp band ordnance installation were completed today.  Clamp band catcher system buildup is in progress and will continue on Saturday.  Significant work occurred at the launch pad this week.  The first stage and interstage of our Delta II launch vehicle were erected at SLC-2 on Tuesday.  On Thursday the 3 solid motors were attached to the first stage.  Today the second stage was hoisted into the tower and mated to the vehicle. Launch vehicle processing continues on schedule.

12/4/08 - Solar Array snubber measurements, spacecraft transmitter cooling system flight configuration and flight antenna standoff installations were completed today.  ESA cleaning will be performed on Friday along with clamp band ordnance installation and catcher system buildup.

12/3/08 - The solar array mast harness inspections and testing were completed today.  All inspection and test data was nominal.  Planned mechanical work for Thursday includes solar array snubber measurements, spacecraft transmitter cooling system flight configuration, flight antenna standoff installation and ESA eyeball cleaning.

12/1/08 – 12/2/08 - NOAA-N Prime vehicle processing has resumed at VAFB following the Thanksgiving holiday break.  Yesterday afternoon and today have been spent preparing for inspections and testing on the spacecraft to bring the Solar Array Diode issue to resolution.  Solar Array Harness isolation testing will commence on Wednesday. Following this testing, mechanical work originally planned for today and the remainder of the week will continue.

 

11/24/08 - 11/26/08 - Battery discharge was completed Wednesday morning.  This concludes all planned launch processing activities on the spacecraft until after the Thanksgiving holiday period.  Processing will resume on Monday, Dec. 1st.

 

11/23/08 – The spacecraft was pressurized with gaseous nitrogen to flight pressure today.  Following pressurization operations, battery discharging operations commenced and will continue through Wednesday.

11/22/08 – SEPET test deconfiguration and pressurization preps were completed today.  Leak testing of the reaction control system (RCS) is in progress and will be completed by Sunday morning.  Pressurization to flight pressure will follow.

11/21/08 – The Aliveness test, ADCS/SARP3 option retest and UDA/ADA mating/Air link testing were successfully completed today.

11/20/08 – Aliveness testing is in progress and should be completed by Friday morning.  Retest of the ADCS/SARP3 downlink checks as well as flight mating and link testing of the UDA and ADA antenna are set to start at the completion of Aliveness testing on Friday.

11/19/08 – Today the Solar Array Illumination test and Stray Voltage test were completed.  Additional troubleshooting for the ADCS/SARP3 SEPET Test 6 Option is ongoing and will continue after Aliveness testing.  All SEPET tests are complete with the exception of this option.  Aliveness testing will begin sometime tonight or Thursday morning.

 

11/18/08 - SEPET testing continued in flow today with no new flags or anomalies noted.  The MHS Instrument testing was successfully completed and Test 6 Options are continuing.

11/17/08 - SEPET is continuing without significant issues.  Test 6 Options are in work.   Troubleshooting of several procedural problems resulted in slower than expected progress today however the test is still on track to finish later this week.

11/16/08 - SEPET is continuing without significant issues. Since yesterday, Test 4, 5 and several Test 6 options have been completed.  Testing is progressing on schedule.

11/15/08 - SEPET is continuing with no anomalies noted.  TP-ASC and Tests 1, 2 and 3 are complete.  Test 4 is progressing and should be completed within the next couple of hours. Expect Test 5 to be completed sometime Sunday morning followed by Test 6 options.

11/14/08 - SEPET is continuing on schedule with no anomalies noted.

 

11/13/08 - The End to End test between the spacecraft and the SOCC was successfully completed today. SEPET testing officially began this afternoon and is expected to continue through the end of next week.

11/12/08 - The first power on cycle of the spacecraft at VAFB was successfully performed today.  Link checks were conducted on the command and telemetry circuits to verify acceptable data flow for the upcoming electrical tests.  Upon completion of the link checks, the spacecraft was powered down.  End to End testing will commence on Thursday morning followed by the start of SEPET sometime Thursday evening. 

11/11/08 - Today the final configuration activities for the End to End Test and SEPET were completed.  Photo documentation and test set-up inspections were performed as well.  The SEPET TRR was successfully conducted with several minor actions remaining to be resolved prior to the start of testing on Thursday evening.  The spacecraft will be powered on tomorrow to verify proper functionality of the command and telemetry links between the spacecraft and ATNAGE.

 

11/10/08 - Sunday evening the team completed the battery charging operation.  All cell and pack data collected during the operation was nominal.  Electrical and mechanical preparations for the End to End Test and SEPET were performed on Monday and are expected to complete on Tuesday.  The End to End Test dry run between the spacecraft simulator in Lab 3 and the SOCC was successfully performed on Monday as well.  The SEPET TRR is scheduled for Tuesday.

11/09/08 – Battery charging ongoing.  All cells behaving nominally.

11/08/08 - The Building 1610 large doors were opened today to allow removal of the shipping container, turnover cart and other large shipping equipment.  Following removal of this equipment, the doors were closed and the highbay was cleaned.  The remainder of the day was spent removing the contamination shroud from the spacecraft and performing all preparations for battery charge. Sunday the team will execute the battery charge over two shifts.

11/07/08 - The flight separation system build up continued today.  The clamp band was tensioned to flight levels and will be checked again for proper tension per procedure on Saturday.  The PAF to spacecraft electrical harnesses were installed, mated and tied down.  Installation of the contamination shroud was completed today in preparation for tomorrow’s equipment swap.

11/06/08 - The spacecraft was rotated to vertical today and transferred to the Delta Payload Attach Fitting (PAF).  All remaining planned processing activities through launch will be completed with the spacecraft in the vertical orientation. Flight separation system (clamp band and catcher) buildup will continue through tomorrow along with other mechanical and electrical test preparations. In addition to the work on the spacecraft, the shipping container cover was reinstalled in preparation for removal from Building 1610, currently scheduled for Saturday.

 

11/05/08 - The spacecraft container was opened today and post shipment inspections were successfully completed.  Following inspections, the spacecraft was removed from the container and transferred to the turnover cart. Rotation to vertical and transfer of the spacecraft from the turnover cart to the PAF / milk stool is scheduled for Thursday.

 

11/04/08 - The NOAA-N Prime Spacecraft was successfully transported to Vandenberg AFB today, November 4th 2008 and has been secured in the Building 1610 Hazardous Processing Facility.  Processing is set to start on Wednesday.