Friday, May 1 Activities.

We continue to test the propulsion system. The valves and regulator have been leak tested. More testing over the weekend. We will be getting ready for fueling on Monday.

Second stage stacked!

Cool link to KSC webcams at: http://www.floridatoday.com/content/maps/spacewebcams.shtml

Wed, April 29 Activities

Wednesday, the propulsion team completed the Propellant Tank Pressurization checkout. The tank is pressurized to 350 psig. They had to work around two building clears while LCROSS was stacked onto its flight adapter ring.

The LCROSS hardware is ready for the LRO mate which will happen in about a week and a half.

Tuesday, April 28 Activities.

Today we completed closeout of the LOLA instrument. We removed the Aeronex filter, and performed final blanket closeouts.

We have started to make our final approach to fueling the spacecraft. The propulsion crew spent the day getting their test equipment out and set up. The next several days will be dedicated to performing the final propulsion tests before fueling.

The LRO/LCROSS Atlas booster is out at the Vertical Integration Facility. Tomorrow the Centaur stage will be erected! Its all starting to come together.

"I think complexity is mostly sort of crummy stuff that is there because it's too expensive to change the interface." - Jaron Lanier

Monday, April 27 Activities.

Monday, we ran the Launch Day Aliveness proc again, but in a configuration closer to the launch configuration.

We also took more NAC images to verify a tool the LROC team will use during the mission to establish correct camera settings.

We verified the SAS damper heater operation, which completes all the SAS integration testing.

This End Up.

We completed our final ACS Phasing Test and Coarse Sun Sensor Test today. With the final integration of the solar array panels, we were able to perform final testing on the ACS system. We were able to verify that the spacecraft responded correctly to external stimuli.

We also performed an end to end test of the power system which included the solar array panels.

"What's up?" [asked Ford.]
"I don't know," said Marvin, "I've never been there."

Solar Arrays Installed!

Today the Solar Arrays were installed on the Orbiter. With this complete all that remains is removal of red tag/green tag items and filling the tanks with propellant! And a bit of thermal closeout of course.

Next week includes ACS phasing tests, some Solar Array tests and a variety of closeouts and final launch configuration work.

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now. -Johann von Goethe

Getting Ready for Launch.

The LRO spacecraft is undergoing final configurations for launch.

On Tues 4/14, the high gain antenna boom was lowered for final testing and the last trending run was performed. The final transmitter test was successfully completed. No more RF transmissions now, until after we launch.

On Wed 4/15, a series of range of motion tests were performed on both the solar array gimbal and the high gain antenna gimbal. Both mechanisms performed nominally.

Today, the high gain antenna boom was raised in preparation for the final stowing. Installation of the release actuators for the high gain and solar array systems was completed.

“Miracles come in moments. Be ready and willing.” Wayne Dyer