|
Aura Launch Pad
Activities
Welcome to Aura's Launch Pad Activities page. As spacecraft
and vehicle milestones are reached at Vandenberg Air Force
Base, this page will be updated with text and video updates.
Current
The last remaining major test, the Flight Program
Verification, was successfully completed yesterday. This was
an integrated test involving the Delta II and the Aura spacecraft. Work
to install the fairing around the spacecraft is scheduled to
begin on July 1 and end the following day. The Flight
Readiness Review is scheduled for July 6 and will give the
approval for loading of the Delta second stage with its hypergolic
propellants July 7.
Retraction
of the mobile service tower, the gantry surrounding the Delta
II, is scheduled to occur at 5:30 p.m. PDT on July 9. Loading
of RP-1, a highly refined kerosene fuel, aboard the first
stage is scheduled to begin at 12:21 a.m. PDT July 10. Loading
of the cryogenic liquid oxygen in the first stage will begin
approximately an hour later. 21 June 2004
An Aura stand-alone state-of-health check at the pad
is currently planned for Thursday or Friday. The Flight
Program Verification, an integrated test involving the Boeing
Delta II launch vehicle and the Aura spacecraft, is scheduled
to occur June 28. Payload fairing installation is scheduled
to begin July 1. The Flight Readiness Review has been
rescheduled for July 6.
17 June 2004
The Flight Program Verification, an
integrated test involving the Boeing Delta II launch
vehicle and the Aura spacecraft, is scheduled to occur
on June 24. The Flight Readiness Review is planned for
July 1.
10 June 2004
The Flight Program Verification, an integrated test involving the Boeing Delta
II launch vehicle and the Aura spacecraft, is scheduled to occur on June 24.
The Flight Readiness Review is planned for July 1.
03 June 2004
On May 26, the spacecraft was mated to the payload attach fitting, the interface
with the Delta II.
26 May 2004
A simulated flight test of the vehicle's electrical and mechanical systems was
successfully completed Monday.
20 May 2004
The build-up of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on Space Launch Complex 2,
located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base, has been completed. The first
stage was stacked April 29 and the second stage May 1. Work to install
the nine solid rocket boosters was completed May 5. A vehicle control
system check was successfully completed Monday. This procedure qualifies
the first and second stage subsystems through a series of detailed tests. The
first stage leak check is scheduled for Friday. It will include a simulated
countdown and the loading of liquid oxygen aboard the first stage. A
Simulated Flight test of the vehicle's electrical and mechanical systems will
follow on May 24.
13 May 2004
The first power-on testing was completed on May 11. A vehicle control check is
scheduled to occur on May 17. This procedure qualifies the first and second
stage subsystems through a series of detailed tests. The first stage leak check,
scheduled for May 21, will include a simulated countdown and the loading of
liquid oxygen. A Simulated Flight (SimFlight) or flight test of the vehicle's
electrical and mechanical systems will follow on May 24.
07 May 2004
The assembly of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on Space Launch Complex 2,
located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base, began on April 29 with the stacking
of the first stage. The payload fairing was hoisted into the tower on April
30. The second stage was hoisted atop the first stage on May 1. Installation
of the nine solid rocket boosters was completed Wednesday.
29 April 2004
The erection of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on Space Launch Complex 2,
located on North Vandenberg Air Force Base, begins today with the erection
of the first stage. The payload fairing will be hoisted into the tower tomorrow,
April 30. The second stage is planned for hoisting atop the first stage on
May 1. Erection of the nine solid rocket boosters will occur in sets of three
on May 3 - 5. 15 April 04
The Delta II first and second stage have arrived at Vandenberg after successfully
completing checkout at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.The erection of
the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle on Space Launch Complex 2, located on
North Vandenberg Air Force Base, is currently scheduled to begin on April
26 with the erection of the first stage. The second stage is planned for
hoisting atop the first stage on April 28. Erection of the nine solid
rocket boosters is scheduled for April 29 through May 1.
|
