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SPACECRAFT AND EXPENDABLE VEHICLES STATUS REPORT
April 3, 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 18, 2003
LAUNCH TIME: 4:32:49 a.m. EDT

Functional testing of SIRTF has been successfully completed and the
spacecraft was mated to the Delta payload attach fitting on March
31.  Work is now under way to install the observatory into a
transportation canister in preparation for moving to Space Launch
Complex 17.  SIRTF will be mated to the Boeing Delta II rocket on
Saturday, April 5.  There will then be an interface verification test
to assure that electrical and mechanical connections have been
properly established.  This will be followed by a spacecraft state of
health check. 

At Pad 17-B on the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle, a liquid oxygen
leak check of the first stage that will include a simulated countdown
and the loading of liquid oxygen aboard was performed yesterday,
April 2.  A flight simulation to test the vehicle's systems that will
operate during powered flight is under way today.  An RP-1 leak check
of the first stage that involves loading of the highly refined
kerosene fuel is scheduled for Friday, April 4. 

The Flight Program Verification, an integrated test of the vehicle
and the spacecraft that is the final major test before launch, is
scheduled to occur April 7.  The payload fairing will be installed
around SIRTF atop the Delta II on April 9 and will be followed by
servicing the observatory with cryogenic helium. 

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: April 26, 2003 NET
LAUNCH WINDOW:  7:50 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.  EDT  (Drop time: 8:00 a.m. EDT)

The GALEX test team has conducted a borescope inspection of the
spacecraft and did not find any loose hardware within it.  Foreign
object debris shields were installed which will assure protection of
the spacecraft components once the satellite is in orbit. 

GALEX will be re-mated to the Pegasus on Monday, April 14.  A flight
simulation will follow.  The fairing will be installed around GALEX
on April 14.  The GALEX/Pegasus will be transported to Cape Canaveral
Air Force Station and mated to the L-1011 carrier aircraft on April
22. An integrated test, a 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: May 30/June 25
LAUNCH TIMES: 2:28 p.m. / 12:34 a.m. EDT

Yesterday on MER-1, the science boom was deployed, tested and
retracted.  On Monday, March 31 a functional test and mission
simulation was performed that included deployment of the solar
arrays, camera mast and camera.  A functional test of the camera was
also performed.  This test will be repeated on Friday, April 4. 

On MER-2, the solar arrays have been stowed for flight and the rover
was installed on the base petal on March 28.  Closeouts are now
underway.  Installation of the landing airbags will also occur on
Friday, April 4.

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
fully integrated payload will be transported to the launch pad for
mating with their respective Boeing Delta II rockets. 

On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, first and second stage
processing activities continue in launch vehicle hangars.  A combined
electrical system test is scheduled for Friday, April 4. 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 Delta for the second launch on June 25
will begin its erection at Pad 17-B on May 1.

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