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Gravity Probe B
Launch Pad Activities
10 Sept 2003
Preparations are beginning for the planned erection next week
of the Delta II launch vehicle at Space Launch Complex 2.
Due to some observed delaminations within the layers of material
that comprise the solid rocket booster nozzle exit-cone liners,
some additional time is necessary to perform a precautionary
change out of three of the nine boosters assigned for this
mission. The additional time required means that the launch
is being rescheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6.
17 Sept 2003
The first stage of the Boeing Delta
II was erected on Space Launch Complex
2 on Monday, Sept. 15, as scheduled.
Mating of the second stage atop
the first stage is planned for tomorrow,
Sept. 18. Attachment of the nine
strap-on solid rocket boosters in
sets of three is scheduled for Oct.
6-8.
24 Sept 2003
Upcoming is the attachment of the
nine strap-on solid rocket boosters
in sets of three scheduled for Oct.
6-8. Integrated testing of the vehicle
will begin on Oct. 14. This will
be followed on Oct. 29 by guidance
and control system checks. An exercise
that involves loading of liquid
oxygen aboard the first stage and
a limited “minus count”
will be conducted on Nov. 4. A Simulated
Flight test, a “plus count”
that tests the launch vehicle systems
as if it were in powered flight,
will be performed on the following
day, Nov. 5.
14 Oct 2003
With the Delta II erected on the launch pad, integrated testing
of the vehicle began earlier this week. A qualification test
in a helium environment is scheduled on Oct. 22 for the Redundant
Inertial Flight Control Assembly (RIFCA). This is the navigation
and guidance control unit for the launch vehicle. Since the
Gravity Probe B space craft will be venting helium inside
the fairing during the countdown and in flight, engineers
want to know what effect, if any, this environment could have
on the RIFCA.
29 Oct 2003
Integrated testing of the vehicle continues on schedule. Qualification
testing has been completed on the Redundant Inertial Flight
Control Assembly (RIFCA). The tests simulated launch conditions
in the unique helium environment that will be created within
the payload fairing by the Gravity Probe B spacecraft. Routine
integrated guidance and control system checkout of the vehicle
begins today.
5 Nov 2003
Routine integrated guidance and control system checkout of
the vehicle was successfully completed as scheduled last week.
14 Nov 2003
The Simulated Flight test was successfully completed on Nov.
6. The final major test before launch, the Flight Program
Verification, will be conducted on Nov. 21.
20 Nov 2003
At Space Launch Complex 2, the rocket has successfully completed
the scheduled prelaunch preparations up to this time, and
there are no issues or concerns with the Delta II.
25 Nov 2003
The Boeing Delta II rocket remains at the pad, enclosed within
the gantry-like mobile service tower until the GP-B spacecraft
arrives.
14 Jan 2004
The Delta II rocket has successfully completed all testing
to date and will remain there until the GP-B spacecraft arrives.
22 Jan 2004
As a result of the earthquake in Central California, near
San Simeon earlier this month, inspections of the pad and
the Delta rocket have been underway. Precautionary testing
of the solid rocket motors is scheduled for next week. So
far, nothing has been found that would be an issue for launch.
30 Jan 2004
Inspections of the pad and the Delta rocket have been under
way. No after-effects have been observed to the launch pad
or the gantry as a result of the earthquake. Precautionary
testing of the solid rocket motors has been re-scheduled for
Feb. 9.
12 Feb 2004
At Space Launch Complex 2 all testing to date has been successfully
completed.
25 Feb 2004
The solid rocket booster inspections
performed as a precaution after
the recent earthquake in central
California have been completed with
no anomalies observed. There are
no Delta II launch vehicle issues
or concerns at this time.
3 March 2004
The spacecraft is currently scheduled to be transported to
Space Launch Complex 2 on April 1 and mated to the Delta II
rocket.
10 March 2004
The rocket is enclosed within the gantry-like mobile service
tower and was powered up yesterday for the resumption of pre-launch
testing.
17 March 2004
At the pad, the rocket is enclosed within the gantry-like
mobile service tower and is powered up. A countdown test with
the first stage loaded with liquid oxygen will occur tomorrow,
March 18. A Simulated Flight test, which is a plus count,
will occur March 24. This activates the electrical and mechanical
flight systems on the vehicle as they will occur from liftoff
through spacecraft separation.
24 March 2004
The Simulated Flight test is underway today. This activates
the electrical and mechanical flight systems on the vehicle
as they will occur from liftoff through spacecraft separation.
A countdown test with the first stage loaded with liquid
oxygen was successfully completed on March 18. The Launch
Site Readiness Review, an assessment of the Delta II launch
vehicle's readiness for spacecraft arrival, is scheduled for
March 30.
31 March 2004
At the pad, the rocket is enclosed
within the gantry-like mobile service
tower and is powered up. A Simulated
Flight test, which is a plus count,
has been completed successfully.
This test activated the electrical
and mechanical flight systems on
the vehicle as they will occur from
liftoff through spacecraft separation.
A countdown test with the first
stage loaded with liquid oxygen
was successfully completed on March
18.
The next major test is the Flight Program Verification to
be conducted on April 5. This is an integrated test of the
Delta II vehicle and the Gravity Probe B spacecraft. Installation
of the fairing around the spacecraft is scheduled for April
8.
8 April 2004
Two days of major activities remain to be performed. On April
16, the loading of the second stage with its complement of
hypergolic propellants is scheduled. On April 17, Flight Slews,
which are launch vehicle engine steering checks, will be performed.
Also, the final Range Safety beacon checks are scheduled.
Retraction of the mobile service tower, the gantry surrounding
the Delta II, is scheduled to occur at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday,
April 18. Loading of RP-1, a highly refined kerosene fuel,
aboard the first stage, is scheduled to begin at approximately
7:30 a.m. on Monday, April 19. Loading of the cryogenic liquid
oxygen into the first stage will begin approximately an hour
later.
15 April 2004
The team has resolved the short in the launch pad ground support
equipment and is proceeding forward with a launch date of
Monday, April 19, at 1:01:20 p.m. EDT.
20 April 2004
Gravity Probe B launches successfully.
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