Jan. 30, 2009

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller{at}nasa.gov

STATUS REPORT: ELV-013009

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Mission: NOAA-N Prime
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Feb. 4, 2009
Launch Window: 2:22:01 - 2:32:01 a.m. PST

The Flight Readiness Review for the Delta II and NOAA-N Prime was
successfully completed Jan. 29. There are no issues or concerns
toward completing final launch preparations including loading the
Delta II second stage with hypergolic propellants on Saturday. There
is one final review to be held on Monday, the Launch Readiness
Review, to assure all is ready to pick up with the start of the
launch countdown operations on Tuesday afternoon. A countdown dress
rehearsal is under way today. The NOAA-N Prime polar-orbiting weather
satellite is enclosed in the Delta II payload fairing and is ready
for launch.

The preliminary weather outlook for Feb. 4 has conditions forecast to
be generally favorable for launch, but becoming less favorable the
following day due to an approaching low pressure system.



Mission: Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO)
Launch Vehicle: Taurus XL (Orbital Sciences)
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 576-E, Vandenberg Air Force Base,
Calif.
Launch Date: Feb. 23, 2009
Launch Time: 1:51 a.m. PST (7 min., 30 sec. launch window)

OCO spacecraft battery conditioning begins next week in preparation
for launch. Work is also under way to prepare the spacecraft to be
mated to the payload attach fitting. The spacecraft will be
encapsulated into the payload fairing beginning on Feb. 7.

In launch preparations for the Taurus launch vehicle, Stage 0, the
stage providing the initial liftoff thrust, was hoisted into position
at the launch pad Thursday.

Meanwhile, Stage 1 and Stage 2 have been integrated. The first phase
of Flight Simulation No. 2 has been completed. The second phase will
be completed on Feb. 5. Flight Simulation No. 3 is currently planned
for Feb. 11.

The encapsulated OCO spacecraft is planned to be integrated with the
Taurus third stage on Feb. 13. Finally, the payload/upper launch
vehicle integrated stack is planned to be hoisted atop Stage 0 on
Feb. 16.



Mission: Kepler
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7925
Launch Pad: 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Date: March 5, 2009
Launch Time: 10:48:43 p.m. EDT

Compatibility tests with the Deep Space Network have been
successfully
completed. The Kepler mission scenario test has also been finished.
Also this week, sun sensor testing and an attitude determination and
control subsystem test were done.

Kepler will be moved to a hazardous processing facility on Feb. 2 for
fueling of the spacecraft which will last for most of the week.

At Pad 17-B, routine work to prepare the Delta II rocket for the
upcoming launch continues. Work is under way to prepare the second
stage of the launch vehicle to receive the Kepler spacecraft, which
is scheduled for Feb. 18.


Previous status reports are available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/index.html

-end-
--- SBBSecho 2.12-Win32