New Horizons NASA's Mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt
EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORTJanuary 6, 2006
MISSION: New Horizons LAUNCH VEHICLE: Lockheed Martin Atlas V 551 (AV-010) LAUNCH PAD: Complex 41 LAUNCH SITE: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida LAUNCH DATE: No earlier than Jan. 17, 2006
The borescope inspection of the Atlas V RP-1 propellant tank was successfully completed this week and no defects were observed. The results of the inspection serve to increase confidence in launch success, but further testing and modeling of the vehicle continues in order to provide confidence in proceeding to launch.
Launch vehicle ordnance installation will be completed today. Third stage closeouts are scheduled for Jan. 9. The safe and arm devices will be installed on the solid rocket boosters Jan. 10.
New Horizons spacecraft closeouts and final documentation are scheduled for Jan. 11 to 13. The final power-on integrated test is set for Jan. 12. The fairing doors will be installed for flight Jan. 14.
(From a Kennedy Space Center release, Status Report ELV-010606)