Special Countdown Issue
SORCE Mission Activity –
Still on
schedule! The SORCE launch remains set for January 25 from Kennedy
Space Center (KSC), with the launch scheduled for 3:10 p.m. Eastern
Time, 1:10 p.m. Mountain Time.
The latest milestone was the fairing installation, which was completed
Wednesday this week. This was the last opportunity to see or handle
SORCE. Following is a pictorial sequence of events. It took approximately
2 days to install and finalize the fairing or clamshell around
the SORCE payload.
Protective solar array
covers are removed prior to starting the installation process.
In the foreground in the lower right corner, you can see the other
side of the clamshell.
Tentative
Dates for Upcoming Events:
- 1/20/03
Launch Rehearsal (KSC)
- 1/21/03
Flight Readiness Review (KSC)
- 1/22/03
SORCE/Pegasus Transported to Hot Pad
- 1/24/03
Launch Readiness Reviews (GSFC/KSC)
- 1/25/03
SORCE Launch (KSC)
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Right side
of the fairing installation is complete and the LASP crew stops
for a photo opportunity. Left to right: Heather Reed, Mike Anfinson,
Rick Kohnert, and David Gathright.
In another
few days the integrated Pegasus and spacecraft will be transported
to the hot pad, located next to the runway. Until then, the team
will finalize mechanical check of the rocket assembly, making
sure that everything that has happened over the last few days
is perfect. 
Right fairing installation is complete.
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