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SPACECRAFT AND EXPENDABLE VEHICLES STATUS REPORT
March 26, 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 26, 2003  (Under Review)
LAUNCH WINDOW:  7:50 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.  EDT  (Drop time: 8:00 a.m. EDT)

The GALEX test team is taking additional time to resolve an issue
with a de-mated connector found during recent testing.  The connector
was observed to have a small fastener and associated clip that cannot
be found.  Since it cannot be proven that this hardware is not
somewhere within the spacecraft bus, foreign object debris shields
will be installed to assure that there is protection to spacecraft
components that might be affected once the satellite is in orbit.
This work will begin on Thursday, Mar. 27.  A borescope inspection of
the spacecraft is underway today to look for the hardware. 

The spacecraft was de-mated from the Orbital Sciences Pegasus rocket
on Mar. 24.  The following day it was rotated to vertical and placed
on a test stand so that the planned work could begin. 

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: Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF)

LAUNCH VEHICLE: Delta II Heavy
LAUNCH PAD: 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
LAUNCH DATE:  April 18, 2003
LAUNCH TIME: 4:32:49 a.m. EDT

Functional testing of SIRTF has been successfully completed.  The
solar arrays have been mated to the observatory and inspections of
the observatory's primary mirror are finished.  The SIRTF reaction
control system (RCS) was pressurized for flight with gaseous nitrogen
on Mar. 22.  This will be used to control the spacecraft on orbit.
The payload attach fitting will be mated to the observatory on
Saturday, Mar. 29.  All SIRTF payload processing is on schedule and
there are no issues or concerns. 

At Pad 17-B on the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle, a flight
simulation to test the vehicle's systems that will operate during
powered flight is underway today.  A leak check of the first stage
that will include a simulated countdown and the loading of liquid
oxygen aboard has been rescheduled for Apr. 2   SIRTF is currently
scheduled for transportation to the launch pad and hoisting atop the
Delta II on or about Apr. 4. 

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


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

LAUNCH VEHICLES: Delta II/Delta II Heavy
LAUNCH PADS: 17-A/17-B
LAUNCH DATES: May 30/June 25
LAUNCH TIMES: 2:28 p.m. / 12:34 a.m. EDT

On March 21, MER-1 was driven on a test pad that included navigating
the rover over obstacles simulating Martian terrain.  The camera also
underwent functional testing.  A functional test and mission
simulation is scheduled for this weekend that includes deployment of
the lander petals, the solar arrays, camera mast and camera.   A
second functional test and mission simulation for MER-2 was
successfully completed last weekend and the rover will be stowed on
the lander base petal late this week.

Processing of the cruise stage, lander and heat shield elements for
both missions continues.  Once functional testing and mission
simulation of the flight elements is complete, they will be
integrated together.  Each spacecraft will be mated to a solid
propellant upper stage booster that will propel the spacecraft out of
Earth orbit.  After mating to the upper stage, the stack will undergo
spin balance testing.  Approximately ten days before launch the
payload will be transported to the launch pad for mating with their
respective Boeing Delta II rockets. 

The Boeing Delta II vehicle for the first launch of the two launches
scheduled on May 30 is planned for erection on Pad 17-A at Space
Launch Complex 17 beginning April 22.  The Boeing and NASA review to
assess the engineering readiness of the Delta II for MER-A was
completed on Mar. 19 at the Boeing plant in Huntington Beach, Calif.

The Delta for the second launch on June 25 will begin its erection at
Pad 17-B on May 1.  Boeing's Delta II Heavy Design Certification
Review for MER-B was completed on Mar. 20. 

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