* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: CloudSat, CALIPSO launch

Blobrana · L

Blobrana · L

The launch of NASA's CloudSat and CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations) satellites is rescheduled for Saturday, April 22. Launch is set for 10:02 GMT (6:02 a.m. EDT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, US.

Today's launch was scrubbed at T-48 seconds due to loss of the primary and backup phone communications between the Mission Directors Centre at Vandenberg and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales Space Command in Toulouse, France. The communications loss is being evaluated.

Blobrana · L

The rocket will fly in the 7420 vehicle configuration and use a dual-payload structure to carry both satellites from the SLC-2W, Vandenberg Air Force Base at 10:02 GMT (6:02 a.m. EDT) April 21st.

Blobrana · L

The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) and CloudSat satellites are set to launch at 6:02 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 21, from NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, US.

Blobrana · L

Boeing Strike

Blobrana · L

A strike by Boeing machinists that has grounded the Delta rocket fleet for nearly three months could be edging closer to resolution. Negotiations between the company and union leaders have resulted in a revised contract offer that will be put to a vote on Wednesday.

Blobrana · L

RE: CloudSat, CALIPSO launch

Blobrana · L

On 2 Nov 2005, the Delta Program Boeing technician workforce went on strike as a result of failed contract renewal with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) union.
As a result, the CALIPSO/CloudSAT launch is on hold. The spacecraft are currently maintained in the Astrotech Payload Processing Facility at Vandenburg Air Force Base. Installation into the transfer container, transition to the launch site and completion of remaining Launch vehicle processing are on hold pending strike resolution and resulting Boeing workforce availability.
The CALIPSO and CloudSAT Project offices, KSC, and NASA HQ are currently working through various scenarios to ensure spacecraft and launch readiness upon strike resolution.

Blobrana · L

The scheduled October 1 launch of the CloudSat and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellites will be previewed at a news media briefing at 17:00 GMT, Thursday, September 15. The briefing is in NASA's Webb Auditorium, 300 E St. SW, Washington.
CloudSat and CALIPSO will provide new perspectives on Earth's clouds and aerosols. The satellites will answer questions about how they form, evolve, affect water supply, climate, weather and air quality.
The satellites will be launched into an orbit, where they will fly just 15 seconds apart as members of NASA's "A-Train," a constellation of several Earth-observing satellites.