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SPACECRAFT AND EXPENDABLE VEHICLES STATUS REPORT
April 14, 2003

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
321/867-2468
                                         

MISSION: Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF)

LAUNCH VEHICLE: Delta II Heavy
LAUNCH PAD: 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
LAUNCH DATE:  April 27, 2003 
LAUNCH TIME: 4:25:01 a.m. EDT

It has been determined that additional time is needed to complete
launch readiness evaluations for the Delta II launch vehicle prior to
holding the Flight Readiness Review.  Therefore, the launch of SIRTF
is being rescheduled to occur on April 27, 2003, at 4:25:01 a.m. EDT.

On April 10 at Pad 17-B, the Delta II payload fairing was installed
around the SIRTF spacecraft.  Servicing of the observatory with
cryogenic helium will begin next week.

SIRTF was transported from Hangar AE to launch pad 17-B and mated to
the Boeing Delta II rocket on Saturday, April 5.  An interface
verification test to assure that electrical and mechanical
connections have been properly established was successfully completed
on Sunday, April 6. This was followed by a successful spacecraft
state of health check. 

A flight simulation to test the vehicle's systems that will operate
during powered flight was completed April 3. An RP-1 leak check of
the first stage that involves loading of the highly refined kerosene
fuel was completed April 4. 

The Flight Program Verification, an integrated test of the vehicle
and the spacecraft that is the final major test before launch, was
successfully completed April 7.
         
Project management of SIRTF for NASA is by the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory.  The observatory is built by Lockheed Martin and Ball
Aerospace. 


MISSION:  Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX)

LAUNCH VEHICLE: Pegasus XL
LAUNCH PAD:  Skid Strip, Canaveral Air Force Station
LAUNCH DATE: TBD 
LAUNCH WINDOW:  TBD

Processing of GALEX began its conclusion with the encapsulation of
the GALEX spacecraft on Sunday, April 13, with the starboard
fairing.  The activity finished today with installation of the port
fairing.

Because SIRTF will now take the GALEX launch opportunity, a new
launch date for GALEX has not been identified.  However, it is
expected to be approximately one week after the launch of SIRTF.

GALEX was re-mated to the Pegasus on Monday, April 7, followed by a
flight simulation on Wednesday, April 9. The GALEX/Pegasus will be
transported to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and mated to the
L-1011 about four days before launch. An integrated test, the
Combined Systems Test (CST), will follow.
          
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 6/June 25
LAUNCH TIMES: 2:12:44 p.m. / 12:38:16 a.m. EDT

The beginning of the launch period for the first of NASA's two Mars
Exploration Rover missions will be rescheduled until no earlier than
June 6 to allow time to address a potential problem raised during
pre-launch tests of the spacecraft over the weekend.

The concern regards cabling that connects the spacecraft's main
computer, which is inside the rover, to peripherals in the cruise
stage, lander and small deep space transponder.  The connection to
the cruise stage is severed during approach to Mars and the
connection to the lander is severed before the rover drives off.
Pre-launch testing revealed a potential problem in how the spacecraft
interprets signals sent when the cables are severed.  The problem
will require fixing on both rovers.  The work is not expected to
effect the launch period for the second rover mission which is
scheduled to open June 25 and close July 15 for a landing Jan. 25,
2004.  However, the second mission cannot launch until 10 days after
the first one. 

The remedy will require some disassembly of the spacecraft at NASA's
Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Fla.  The work cannot be done
within the schedule of preparations for the original May 30 opening
of the launch period.  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
launch date within that period.

On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, first and second stage
processing activities for the MER-A vehicle continues in Hangar AO
and erection on Pad 17-A is planned to begin April 22.  Erection of
the vehicle for MER-B is planned to begin May 24.

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