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SPACECRAFT AND EXPENDABLE VEHICLES STATUS REPORT
May 5, 2003

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
321/867-2468
                                         
MISSION:  Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX)

LAUNCH VEHICLE: Pegasus XL
LAUNCH PAD:  Skid Strip, Canaveral Air Force Station
LAUNCH DATE: April 28, 2003 
   
The launch of NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) spacecraft
aboard an Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) air-launched Pegasus
vehicle occurred on schedule on Monday, April 28 at 8 a.m. EDT. 

The launch began with the departure of the L-1011 aircraft from Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station at 7:03 a.m.   The drop of the Pegasus
rocket from the L-1011 occurred over the Atlantic Ocean at an
altitude of 39,000 feet at a location approximately 100 nautical
miles offshore east-northeast of Cape Canaveral.   A nominal
spacecraft separation from Pegasus occurred 11 minutes later.  At
that time the satellite was in a circular orbit of 430 statute miles
(690 km) at a 29-degree inclination.  Shortly thereafter, spacecraft
acquisition occurred by the TDRS-West Tracking and Data Relay
Satellite followed by tracking stations on the ground in Australia
and Hawaii that were able to confirm the GALEX telescope was in a
good state of health. 

GALEX continues to operate satisfactorily and spacecraft checkout is
proceeding of GALEX is underway. 

GALEX will observe a million galaxies across 10 billion years of
cosmic history to help astronomers determine when the stars and
galaxies we see today had their origins. The spacecraft will make the
first ultraviolet scan of the whole sky beyond the Milky Way galaxy. 

The GALEX program management is by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
and is part of Goddard's Small Explorer (SMEX) program. Spacecraft
project management is the responsibility of the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, and the California Institute of Technology is the lead
for mission science. 

The GALEX program management is by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
and is part of Goddard's Small Explorer (SMEX) program.  Spacecraft
project management is the responsibility of the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, and the California Institute of Technology is the lead
for mission science. 

          
MISSION: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER-1/MER-2)

LAUNCH VEHICLES: Delta II/Delta II Heavy
LAUNCH PADS: 17-A/17-B
LAUNCH DATES: June 5/June 25
LAUNCH TIMES: 2:56:59 p.m. / 12:38:16 a.m. EDT

The reworked telecom support boards (TSB) have been installed on both
MER landers.  MER-2 lander integration was completed on Thursday,
April 24.  Integration of the MER-2 entry vehicle (back shell, heat
shield, lander and rover assembly) has been completed.  Last week the
spacecraft had a weight and center of gravity determination was
followed by a dry-spin test.  Fueling is planned for May 11 and will
be followed by another spin test once fuel is aboard. 

On MER-1, rover installation onto the base petal has been completed
and the lander's air bag installation is scheduled for this week. 

The mission will have two launch opportunities each day during the
launch period, which is scheduled to close on June 19.  Arrival at
Mars is set for Jan 4, 2003, regardless of the launch date within
that period. 
     
On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, first stage was erected on
Wednesday, April 23 for MER-A on Pad 17-A.  Second stage erection was
completed on Monday, April 28.  Fairing on April 30 Simulated Flight
and Engine Sequence is currently scheduled for May 9.  The solid
motor erection is scheduled for May 14-16.  For MER-B on Pad 17-B,
the solid rocket boosters will be erected May 19-24, the second stage
will be hoisted atop the first stage on May 28th. 


MISSION: Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF)

LAUNCH VEHICLE: Delta II Heavy
LAUNCH PAD: 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
LAUNCH DATE:  August 27, 2003 
LAUNCH TIME:   TBD

At Pad 17-B, the SIRTF observatory was removed from atop the Delta II
rocket about mid-evening on Friday, May 2 and was taken back to NASA
Spacecraft Hangar AE during the overnight hours. 

Work is underway today to remove the Delta second stage.  Next to be
removed will be five of the solid rocket boosters, two of which have
the delamination concern and the three others because of the amount
of time remaining in their shelf life.  The four remaining boosters
and the Delta first stage will be used by MER-B. 

SIRTF will remain in the clean room at Hangar AE until it returns to
the pad in early August.  The launch of SIRTF is currently planned to
occur on Wednesday, August 27. 

Project management of SIRTF for NASA is by the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory.  The observatory was built for NASA by Lockheed Martin
and Ball Aerospace. 

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