Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report - August 27, 2010
baa...@earthlink.net
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george....@nasa.gov
STATUS REPORT: ELV-082710
EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT
Spacecraft: Glory
Launch Vehicle: Taurus XL 3110
Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Nov. 22, 2010
Launch Time: 2:09 a.m. PST
Altitude/Inclination: 440 miles/98.2 degrees
The Taurus rocket is in Orbital Sciences Hangar 1555 located on north
Vandenberg Air Force Base where integration and testing of the
vehicle's flight hardware components continue.
The Vehicle Verification Test, a test milestone in Taurus processing,
was conducted on Aug. 25 and was fully successful. Testing is under
way on the first half of the payload fairing that arrived at
Vandenberg on Aug. 17. Stage 2 telemetry testing continues and is
expected to conclude today. Testing of the Taurus flight computer has
been completed. Stages 1, 2 and 3 are currently scheduled to be mated
together during the second week of September. On Stage 0, mechanical
work and thermal blanket installation are continuing.
The Glory spacecraft currently is scheduled to arrive at Vandenberg on
or about Oct. 13 to begin processing for launch.
Data from the Glory mission will allow scientists to better understand
the Earth's energy budget. An accurate description of the Earth's
energy budget is important in order to anticipate future changes to
our climate. Shifts in the global climate and the associated weather
patterns impact human life by altering landscapes and changing the
availability of natural resources.
The Aerosol Polarimetry Sensor instrument will measure aerosols
(human-caused and naturally occurring) to determine their relative
influence on the global climate.
The Total Irradiance Monitor instrument will monitor the Sun to
understand short-term solar mechanisms causing energy budget changes
and will contribute to the vital long-term solar record.
Previous status reports are available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/index.html
-end-