L-3 Days, Maybe!

We completed our Mission Dress Rehearsal for launch with Atlas and LCROSS on June 11 and are waiting to roll out to the pad. But the scrub of the Shuttle Launch has complicated things a bit. See my recent email below:

LRO Team,

Here's the outcome of today's events. Please read it carefully as the path forward is a bit convoluted:

• Up until Monday 6/15 about noon: Both Shuttle and LRO/LCROSS are on for 6/17-20. There will be a Monday 6am Shuttle status, and a Monday ~12noon Range configuration call. From there we have two scenarios, one with a additional variation:

1. If Shuttle has no processing issues by this time, then LRO/LCROSS gives up the 17th for a Shuttle attempt on the 17th., we have 18-20th with a lien on the 18th. Up until about Shuttle L-6 hours (midnight Tuesday), LRO/LCROSS has 6/18-20. Should Shuttle continue their count past this point (midnight Tuesday) even if they do not launch, we give up the 18th and have only 6/19-20.

2. If the Shuttle declares at noon Monday they cannot make the 17th LRO\LCROSS gets the 17th only and the Shuttle will plan for the 20th. Inside this path is the possibility the Shuttle would decline the 20th later in the window in which case LRO\LCROSS would recoup some or all of the 17-20 window.

Implications of the situation:

• We must plan for the 17th until at least noon tomorrow.
• If we lose the 17th at noon tomorrow it is gone for good no matter what.
• If we get the 17th tomorrow it is very likely all we have in this block, making a 6/30-7/3 launch more probable.
• If we lose the 17th Atlas roll out will slip at least a day.
• LRR and Press Events do not change