GRAIL&Delta II cleared for Weekend Launch |
September 9, 2011; 3pm EDT |
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GRAIL is clear to launch on one of two attempts tomorrow from SLC-17 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Managers met today to discuss an anomaly that was observed during detanking after the first launch attempts were scrubbed on Thursday. A heater that is part of the propulsion system stayed on longer than usual causing equipment to exceed red line limits slightly. It was only a minor issue, but managers wanted to give the team additional time to fully understand the situation and make completely sure that no equipment was harmed in the changed thermal environment. The meeting concluded with a decision to press on with launch operations for Saturday. Launch Times:
Weather conditions look better than they did on Thursday. Forecasters have issued a 60% chance of good weather with some concerns. The primary focus will be on cumulus clouds and flight through precipitation. Weather at the Antigua ground station is expected to show the first traces of Tropical Storm Maria, but teams anticipate that the station will be up and running. If that is not the case, communication with the vehicle can be provided by Florida Ground Stations and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. The Launch Team will come in just before 3am EDT and the Mobile Service Tower will be rotated earlier (weather permitting). Countdown timelines show that at around 11pm EDT. Check out the Launch Info Page for updated Countdown Timelines, more Weather Info and Links to Ascent Data&Ground Track. |
 Photo: NASA Kennedy |
GRAIL now set for launch on Saturday |
September 9, 2011; 2am EDT |
Friday’s two launch opportunities for GRAIL were scrubbed after yesterday’s 24-hour Recycle. The Mobile Service Tower has been put back in place around the Delta II Heavy Rocket.
This delay is not a weather delay, it is of technical nature. Teams need additional time to assess data that was gathered during yesterday’s de-tanking after the launch scrub. Propulsion System telementry raised enough concern that an additional review is necessary causing this delay. A propulsion system property violated its Red Line Limit. If the anomalous data will cause further scrubs for repairs is not clear and there are no official details on the subject as of 2am EDT, Friday morning.
Weather is looking better for Saturday’s attempts at 8:29:45am EDT and 9:08:52am EDT. Forecasters have issued a 60% chance of favorable weather conditions with cumulus clouds and flight through precipitation being the primary concerns. Weather at the Antigua Ground Station that is used for communication could cause problems as well because Tropical Storm Maria is arriving there in the overnight hours to Saturday.
This delay is not a weather delay, it is of technical nature. Teams need additional time to assess data that was gathered during yesterday’s de-tanking after the launch scrub. Propulsion System telementry raised enough concern that an additional review is necessary causing this delay. A propulsion system property violated its Red Line Limit. If the anomalous data will cause further scrubs for repairs is not clear and there are no official details on the subject as of 2am EDT, Friday morning.
Weather is looking better for Saturday’s attempts at 8:29:45am EDT and 9:08:52am EDT. Forecasters have issued a 60% chance of favorable weather conditions with cumulus clouds and flight through precipitation being the primary concerns. Weather at the Antigua Ground Station that is used for communication could cause problems as well because Tropical Storm Maria is arriving there in the overnight hours to Saturday.
Photo: NASA Kennedy
SCRUB! GRAIL grounded one more Day
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September 8, 2011; 10am EDT
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Full Story
60 Minutes to Launch
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September 8, 2011; 7:37am EDT
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Launch Preparations are on schedule for the GRAIL Launch atop a Delta II 7920H-10 Vehicle.
The first stage is now fully fueled with 211,000 pounds of propellants. RP-1 loading started at 6:02am EDT and continued for about 20 minutes until 9,988 gallons of refined Kerosene were tanked. LOX Loading started on time at 6:54am EDT. That was completed 27 minutes later when LOX hit 100% and pressurization picked up. A good test of the LOX system was performed and Oxygen was dumped to 95%. Top Off will continue later in the count.
All other subsystems are working fine as well, no technical problems have been reported. The Helium and nitrogen tanks have been pressurized as expected. Communication checks were performed as well to verify a solid communication link via S and C Band. All guidance hard- and software aboard the Delta Rocket has been checked and is in good condition for powered flight.
The two 1-second launch opportunities today are at 8:37:06am EDT and 9:16:12am EDT.
Weather is the only concern and is being monitored by meteorologists and the ground and aboard a weather reconnaissance aircraft.
Attached Anvil clouds are a major concern for today’s attempt. Also being monitored are cumulus clouds and isolated showers in the vicinity of the launch pad. Observed conditions are suggesting that the clouds have not yet thickened the way forecasters were predicting so that cautious optimism is present in the launch control center at this point. Lightning and increased solar flux will not be concern today. Meteorologists are still calling for a 40% chance of favorable weather this morning.
The first stage is now fully fueled with 211,000 pounds of propellants. RP-1 loading started at 6:02am EDT and continued for about 20 minutes until 9,988 gallons of refined Kerosene were tanked. LOX Loading started on time at 6:54am EDT. That was completed 27 minutes later when LOX hit 100% and pressurization picked up. A good test of the LOX system was performed and Oxygen was dumped to 95%. Top Off will continue later in the count.
All other subsystems are working fine as well, no technical problems have been reported. The Helium and nitrogen tanks have been pressurized as expected. Communication checks were performed as well to verify a solid communication link via S and C Band. All guidance hard- and software aboard the Delta Rocket has been checked and is in good condition for powered flight.
The two 1-second launch opportunities today are at 8:37:06am EDT and 9:16:12am EDT.
Weather is the only concern and is being monitored by meteorologists and the ground and aboard a weather reconnaissance aircraft.
Attached Anvil clouds are a major concern for today’s attempt. Also being monitored are cumulus clouds and isolated showers in the vicinity of the launch pad. Observed conditions are suggesting that the clouds have not yet thickened the way forecasters were predicting so that cautious optimism is present in the launch control center at this point. Lightning and increased solar flux will not be concern today. Meteorologists are still calling for a 40% chance of favorable weather this morning.
MSB rolled to Launch Position
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September 8, 2011; 3am EDT
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Launch Operations are in full swing at Space Launch Complex 17. Teams started final walkdowns and inspections of the Mobile Service Tower and the Delta II at 8pm EDT yesterday. The official L-Clock picked up at L-12 Hours at 8:37. It will enter a 60-minute hold at the 4 hour mark before the terminal countdown begins.
On time at L-9 hours and 20 minutes, the large MSB began its retraction to reveal the rocket with GRAIL on top. Just after midnight, the tower was secured in its launch position.
At 3am EDT, launch teams get in for launch day activities. Also around that time, the first in a series of weather balloons will be released to provide additional weather information.
Technical problems have not been reported at this time and preparations are on schedule to launch the Delta II 7920H-10 on time with weather being the only real concern. Conditions will be monitored closely throughout the remainder of the countdown.
On time at L-9 hours and 20 minutes, the large MSB began its retraction to reveal the rocket with GRAIL on top. Just after midnight, the tower was secured in its launch position.
At 3am EDT, launch teams get in for launch day activities. Also around that time, the first in a series of weather balloons will be released to provide additional weather information.
Technical problems have not been reported at this time and preparations are on schedule to launch the Delta II 7920H-10 on time with weather being the only real concern. Conditions will be monitored closely throughout the remainder of the countdown.
GRAIL and Delta II have a GO for Launch
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September 6, 2011; 2pm EDT
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Today’s Launch Readiness Review has concluded with a GO for Launch Operations. The team evaluated all Systems associated with the Delta II, the Twin GRAIL Orbiters and all Equipment on the Ground that will support the mission. No major problems were identified and the GO for the Launch Countdown was issued.
Launch Operations will begin tomorrow. GRAIL will be powered up tomorrow afternoon and undergo functional testing before the orbiters are put in a flight configuration. At 8pm EDT, the team will begin operations to roll the Mobile Servicing Tower with first movement occuring between 10:30pm and midnight. Uusually, MSB Rollback takes place at L-560 Minutes which would place the time of first motion at 11:17pm EDT. Weather could hold up that procedure as lightning within 5 nautical miles is a constraint. Thunderstorms in the evening hours are likely to occur through the rest of the week.
Launch Operations will begin tomorrow. GRAIL will be powered up tomorrow afternoon and undergo functional testing before the orbiters are put in a flight configuration. At 8pm EDT, the team will begin operations to roll the Mobile Servicing Tower with first movement occuring between 10:30pm and midnight. Uusually, MSB Rollback takes place at L-560 Minutes which would place the time of first motion at 11:17pm EDT. Weather could hold up that procedure as lightning within 5 nautical miles is a constraint. Thunderstorms in the evening hours are likely to occur through the rest of the week.
Launch Readiness Review and final Checks
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September 6, 2011; 9am EDT
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The Delta II Rocket that will bring GRAIL to space will be undergoing final checks and verifications today at Space Launch Complex 17.
The team is back today after the Labor Day Weekend. The main focus of the day will be range verifications and the Launch Readiness Review.
Communication and Range Systems of the Delta Rocket will be tested as part of a final pre-countdown electrical test. Teams will also make sure that the vehicle’s guidance system hardware is in a proper configuration.
Also on tap this morning is the final systems review – the LRR. The launch team will look at each system of both, the rocket and spacecraft, to verify that all systems are ready to support the mission. When that confirmation is given, the Delta II is GO to head into launch operations and the countdown.
At 1pm EDT, there will be a News Conference with Tim Dunn, the launch director for this mission who will give an update on launch status and systems condition. Also participating in the briefing will be GRAIL project officials and NASA HQ representatives. The 45th Weather Squadron will also give a weather update during the conference.
Forecasters have issued a weather update this morning calling for a 40% chance of favorable weather on Thursday and Friday. It is expected that a surface trough will move in the area on Wednesday bringing scattered shower/thunderstorm activity for the rest of the week combined with warm and moist air masses that are already in place. Concerns for launch will be anvil clouds from thunderstorm/lightning activity as well as cumulus clouds and precipitation. Thunderstorms/Lightning will also be a threat during pad gantry roll that is scheduled to start just before midninght tomorrow. Weather conditions could delay that operation. Meteorologists will be watching the situation over the coming days and advise the launch team during regularly scheduled weather briefings that will continue through the final countdown hold on Thursday morning.
The team is back today after the Labor Day Weekend. The main focus of the day will be range verifications and the Launch Readiness Review.
Communication and Range Systems of the Delta Rocket will be tested as part of a final pre-countdown electrical test. Teams will also make sure that the vehicle’s guidance system hardware is in a proper configuration.
Also on tap this morning is the final systems review – the LRR. The launch team will look at each system of both, the rocket and spacecraft, to verify that all systems are ready to support the mission. When that confirmation is given, the Delta II is GO to head into launch operations and the countdown.
At 1pm EDT, there will be a News Conference with Tim Dunn, the launch director for this mission who will give an update on launch status and systems condition. Also participating in the briefing will be GRAIL project officials and NASA HQ representatives. The 45th Weather Squadron will also give a weather update during the conference.
Forecasters have issued a weather update this morning calling for a 40% chance of favorable weather on Thursday and Friday. It is expected that a surface trough will move in the area on Wednesday bringing scattered shower/thunderstorm activity for the rest of the week combined with warm and moist air masses that are already in place. Concerns for launch will be anvil clouds from thunderstorm/lightning activity as well as cumulus clouds and precipitation. Thunderstorms/Lightning will also be a threat during pad gantry roll that is scheduled to start just before midninght tomorrow. Weather conditions could delay that operation. Meteorologists will be watching the situation over the coming days and advise the launch team during regularly scheduled weather briefings that will continue through the final countdown hold on Thursday morning.
Second Stage Fueling complete
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September 3, 2011; 5pm EDT
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GRAIL’s Launch Vehicle, the Delta II 7920H-10 Rocket, underwent second stage fueling on Friday and Saturday at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The second stage stores Nitrogen Tetroxide and Aerozine as propellants.
The tanking process started with Oxidizer Loading (Nitrogen Tetroxide) on Friday. Aerozine was tanked on Saturday. Tanking the second stage is one of the most crucial milestones in the launch preparation because it is limiting the launch period of the vehicle. The rocket stage is only certified to hold its fuel for 37 days before it can no longer be launched. Storable Hypergolic Propellants that are exposed to the launcher’s systems can damage parts that need to function properly during powered flight. When theis time expires, the second stage has to be refurbished before it can be re-certified.
The Fueling Process concluded on Saturday. A large part of the team will not return until Tuesday when final testing of the Spacecraft and its Launch Vehicle is planned.
The tanking process started with Oxidizer Loading (Nitrogen Tetroxide) on Friday. Aerozine was tanked on Saturday. Tanking the second stage is one of the most crucial milestones in the launch preparation because it is limiting the launch period of the vehicle. The rocket stage is only certified to hold its fuel for 37 days before it can no longer be launched. Storable Hypergolic Propellants that are exposed to the launcher’s systems can damage parts that need to function properly during powered flight. When theis time expires, the second stage has to be refurbished before it can be re-certified.
The Fueling Process concluded on Saturday. A large part of the team will not return until Tuesday when final testing of the Spacecraft and its Launch Vehicle is planned.
GRAIL passes FRR
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August 31, 2011; 3pm EDT
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GRAIL and its Delta II Launcher passed today's Flight Readiness Review. All systems are ready to support the mission and teams are now proceeding towards the official launch date of September 8. This includes filling the second stage of the stack with propellants. When the tanks have been filled, the vehicle has to launch within a limited timeframe before the fuels can damage te system.
Flight Readiness Review
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August 31, 2011; 6am EDT
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Today, the Flight Readiness Review for NASA’s GRAIL Mission will be held at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Statuses and Information for each System will be presented at the meeting before both, the Spacecraft Group and the Delta II Launch Team, are polled to give a formal decision on GRAIL’s launch date.
At this time, no problems have been reported and it is anticipated that a GO for the first day of the Launch Period will be given after today’s FRR.
At this time, no problems have been reported and it is anticipated that a GO for the first day of the Launch Period will be given after today’s FRR.
Payload Fairing installed
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August 24, 2011; 5pm EDT
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NASA’s Twin GRAIL Spacecraft were enclosed in their Payload fairing today at the Kennedy Space Center.
Inside the clean room located at the top of GRAIL’s Delta II Launcher, technicians removed a protective cover from the twin spacecraft. One last examination was made before the two halves of the clampshell-shaped Payload Fairing were moved into position. Later, they were attached to the rocket and to each other. This particular fairing in 10 feet in diameter and 29 feet in length. It will protect the Moon-bound vehicles from temperature and daynamic loads while they are flying through the atmosphere. Payload Fairing Jettison occurs as soon as thermal loads are acceptable during powered ascent.
The Rocket and the Payloads are on track for an on-time launch on September 8. An Integrated Systems Test on August 22 revealed that all systems are ready to support the mission.
NASA announced a Preflight News Conference on GRIL for tomorrow, August 25, 2011 at 11am EDT. This event will be shown on NASA TV.
Inside the clean room located at the top of GRAIL’s Delta II Launcher, technicians removed a protective cover from the twin spacecraft. One last examination was made before the two halves of the clampshell-shaped Payload Fairing were moved into position. Later, they were attached to the rocket and to each other. This particular fairing in 10 feet in diameter and 29 feet in length. It will protect the Moon-bound vehicles from temperature and daynamic loads while they are flying through the atmosphere. Payload Fairing Jettison occurs as soon as thermal loads are acceptable during powered ascent.
The Rocket and the Payloads are on track for an on-time launch on September 8. An Integrated Systems Test on August 22 revealed that all systems are ready to support the mission.
NASA announced a Preflight News Conference on GRIL for tomorrow, August 25, 2011 at 11am EDT. This event will be shown on NASA TV.
Photo: NASA Kennedy
More Photos: Click Here
Integrated Systems Test on Tap for GRAIL
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August 22, 2011; 12pm EDT
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GRAIL and its Delta II 7920H-10 Rocket are going through a thorough Integrated Systems Test today. This test ensures that both, the rocket and the dual spacecraft, are in good shape and readiness for flight.
The IST simulates a countdown and the mission in real time. During today’s activites, systems will be powered up and checked out. This simulation is able to point to problems that have to be solved prior to liftoff, however previous tests have indicated that all systems are in good condition. After being mated to the launcher, the GRAIL vehicles underwent a functional test on Friday and Saturday. That test is performed to check the spacecraft for any damage that might have occurred during transfer and installation operations. GRAIL passed this test, no systems were harmed during the trip to Launch Complex 17. |
 Photo: NASA Kennedy GRAIL on top of the Delta II
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GRAIL installed on its Launcher
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August 19, 2011; 4pm EDT
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NASA’s Twin GRAIL Spacecraft have been rolled out to Launch Complex 17 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Thursday, August 18, 2011. When GRAIL arrived at the Launch Site, the vehicles were raised up and installed on their Delta II Launcher. Installation was complete at approximately 8:45am EDT. Prior to Rollout, both spacecraft were weighed on August 9 and installed on a payload adapter ring. A protective transportation canister was placed on the ring on August 12 in preparation for rollout.
An On-Pad Functional Test of the entire Stack and the Spacecraft was performed on August 19.
For more images, visit the GRAIL Gallery Page.
An On-Pad Functional Test of the entire Stack and the Spacecraft was performed on August 19.
For more images, visit the GRAIL Gallery Page.
Photo: NASA Kennedy
GRAIL undergoes final weigh-in
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August 10, 2011; 1pm EDT
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Both GRAIL Spacecraft have been fully fueled and prepared for flight. One of the final items the team has to take care of is to weigh each vehicle. Knowing the exact weight of a spacecraft is important for its time in space, especially for calculating all trajectory maneuvers and engine firings.
Weighing started yesterday and continues today. When the operation is complete, technicians will put both spacecraft into a launch configuration. When GARIL is mounted on its platform for launch, it will be enclosed in its payload fairing before being transported to the Launch Complex later in August to begin final launch preparations and checkouts.
Weighing started yesterday and continues today. When the operation is complete, technicians will put both spacecraft into a launch configuration. When GARIL is mounted on its platform for launch, it will be enclosed in its payload fairing before being transported to the Launch Complex later in August to begin final launch preparations and checkouts.
