Terra / EOS AM-1 Spacecraft Launch Site Operations
at Vandenberg AFB, California
Countdown to Launch of Terra Spacecraft:
L-1 days and Counting....it is the day before launch!
This site is intended to provide information on the preparation of the
Terra / Earth Observing System (EOS) AM-1 spacecraft for launch
The spacecraft is the flagship of the Earth Observing System program and was built by
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Goddard Space Flight Center.
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The Terra spacecraft will observe the Earth using sophisticated instruments built by the United States, Canada and Japan. An international team of engineers, scientists, technicians and others have participated in the design, construction and testing of the Terra spacecraft.
Click here for drawings and information about the spacecraft.
Flash!
Liftoff of the Terra / EOS AM-1 spacecraft is scheduled for Thursday, December 16th, 1999.
The launch window opens at 1833 GMT and extends to 1858 GMT
(1:33 to 1:58 pm Eastern, 10:33 to 10:58 am Pacific time)
The spacecraft is in excellent condition and is ready to go.
Final preparations of the launch vehicle are in process.
The Terra team is looking forward to a successful launch!!
The Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space team recently was granted a
100% award fee milestone by our NASA customer.
Click here for the NASA/Kennedy Space Center press release, including information on watching the launch via TV and the Internet.
Check out the new NASA/GSFC Terra web site by clicking here.
Read the CNN story on Terra by clicking here.
Terra was featured as the cover story of Aviation Week and Space Technology magazine for October 4.
Read a Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space LM Today newletter article on the Terra spacecraft and its mission.
Read the Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space press release on delivery of the Terra spacecraft.
Current Spacecraft Status:
The Terra spacecraft is at the SLC-3E Launch Facility.
The spacecraft is loaded with hydrazine propellant.
The spacecraft has been transported to the launch pad and mated to the LV.
-> Final Powered Interface Test Completed 12/14.
Current Activities:
-> Spacecraft Prepartions for Launch and Power Up
-> Launch Vehicle Final Preparations (in process)
-> Booster Fuel (RP-1) has been loaded.
Current photo of the spacecraft inside the payload fairing:
Photo of the encapsulated spacecraft, during lift onto the launch vehicle at SLC-3E:
Photo of the spacecraft and the payload fairing, prior to fairing closure:
Photograph of the spacecraft on the launch vehicle adapter
prior to move to the STV.
The Payload Fairing is in the background.
![[Picture of SC and PLF in High Bay]](SC_primed_PLF_pz_0001.JPG)
Click below for more pictures of the encapsulation process:
Spacecraft Encapsulation
Follow these links for pictures of the Terra spacecraft in the PPF high bay:
Spacecraft in PPF in Vertical Position
Spacecraft in PPF in Horizontal Position
Follow this link for more details on instrument operations.
Pictures of the Transport of the Terra Spacecraft to VAFB:
SC Transport to VAFB
Pictures of Previous Operations at VAFB:
Preparations for CPT
Here is a photograph of the Payload Processing Facility at Astrotech Space Operations, where work on the Terra spacecraft was
performed prior to the spacecraft being moved to the launch pad.
The spacecraft launch control team will be in the control rooms at Astrotech drung the launch.
Our thanks to the Astrotech team for their excellent support!
Here is a photograph of the Space Launch Complex 3 East Pad (SLC3-E), where the Terra spacecraft will be launched.
The launch vehicle is an Atlas IIAS built by Lockheed Martin Astronautics.
This photograph was taken during the Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) conducted on 8/31/99.
The AC-141 Atlas IIAS/Centaur launch vehicle (without spacecraft and payload fairing) and the Umbilical Tower are in the foreground.
In the background is the Mobile Service Tower (MST), the large white structure, which has been rolled back to the launch position.
![[Closeup of Rocket and Launch Pad]](wdr3_156fmu.jpg)
Click here for additional information on launch site facilities (EOS-AM Home Page).
The launch of Terra has been delayed due to a problem with the Pratt & Whitney RL-10 upper stage engine on another mission.
The problem has been investigated and the Terra launch vehicle has been cleared for flight.
Follow the following links for late-breaking news on the effort to return the Atlas launch vehicle to flight:
Report sheds light on Boeing's Delta 3 failure investigation - Florida Today 10/26/99
Atlas nearing launch resumption; Lockheed Martin encounters more engine troubles - Florida Today 9/12/99
Read the NASA launch status report and press release for the Terra spacecraft.
The first Atlas IIAS to launch since suspension of Atlas launches is AC-155 / Echostar-5, from Cape Canaveral Air Station,Florida.
An Atlas IIAS successfully launched the Navy UHFSat on November 22.
Pictures of Launch Site Pad Teams (more to come)
Launches Conducted at Astrotech-SLC:
An additional launch was conducted on the newly constructed Astrotech-SLC at approximately 11:33 PDT on July 28, 1999.
Information and photographs on the inaugural launches conducted July 15 are available here.
The Terra team has been deeply saddened by the loss of Larry Taphorn, who passed away on October 9th.
The Terra spacecraft team recently enjoyed a party in honor of Ayman Mekhail and Long Pham.
The Terra / EOS AM-1 team enjoyed a barbeque in the Lompoc area. Follow this link for pictures of the barbeque!
The Terra / EOS AM-1 team attended a tour of several vineyards in the area. Follow this link for pictures of our tour of the vineyards.
Here are some photos of people that are working on the Terra spacecraft.
Congratulations to the Landsat 7 team for an outstanding job!
TERRA (EOS AM) Project Home Page - details of spacecraft and system
NASA Earth Science Enterprise Home Page
Looking at Earth from Space: 40 Years of NASA Earth Science
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Home Page
July 20, 1999 was the 30th anniversary of the first manned landing on the moon by Apollo 11.
Last revised: 15 December 1999!
Progress made in getting Boeing's Delta 3 back to flight - Florida Today 10/25/99
One Atlas ready to launch, two more on hold - Florida Today 9/11/99
Lockheed (Martin) OKs resumption of Atlas II launches - CNN 8/30/99
Lockheed Martin's Centaur RL10 Engines Cleared For Flight - Lockheed Martin 8/30/99
Engine checks could allow Atlas launches to resume - Florida Today 8/5/99
AC-155 was successfully launched on September 23!
Launch report for AC-155 - Florida Today
Launch Report for UHFSat - Florida Today
The launches commemmorate an earlier Terra launch date of July 28.
Detailed information and photographs are available here.
Follow this link for pictures of newly arrived children of the Terra team!.
Our best wishes to the Bellapigna, Cermignano, O'Neill, Prior and Smith families!
Larry was an important member of the LMMS I&T team, with more than twenty-two years of service at Lockheed Martin and its heritage companies, and was working out here at Vandenberg at the time of his passing.
We would like to extend our sincere condolences to his family.
Click here for pictures from the party!
The Landsat 7 spacecraft was built by
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
and was successfully launched on April 15, 1999 from Vandenberg Air Force Base SLC-2.
From the August 3rd NASA Landsat-7 Status Report:
"The Landsat 7 spacecraft and ETM+ continue to perform spectacularly."
See below for web sites with information on Landsat 7.
Terra / EOS AM-1 Links:
NASA Terra Site
NASA Spacecraft Status/Info Links:
Cassini Mission Status
Project Galileo Home Page: Bringing Jupiter to Earth
Lunar Prospector Mission Status
Mars Global Surveyor Home Page
Mars Global Surveyor Status
SOHO Home Page
SOHO Status
Space Shuttle Mission Status
Voyager 1 and 2 Home Page
Voyager 1 and 2 Mission Status
Pioneer 10 Mission Status
NASA Main Site
NASA Press Releases
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Press Releases
LMMS Press Release on Terra Shipment
LMMS Civil Space Photo Section
Unofficial EOS Links:
Prior's Quick List for the Unofficial EOS Site
Celebrate Jim McDonald's birthday here
Prior's Unofficial EOS Site
Landsat 7 Links:
NASA Landsat 7 Page
Images from Landsat 7
Latest Landsat 7 Status Report (updated August 3, 1999)
Unofficial Landsat 7 Launch Ops Home Page
Landsat Page at NASA Earth Observatory
Landsat 7 Launch and I&T Images
Launch Schedule Sites:
Vandenburg Launch Schedule
Kennedy Space Center Mixed Fleet Schedule
Space Online Extended Worldwide Launch Schedule
Space Related News Sites:
CNN Space News Page
MSNBC Space News Page
FLORIDA TODAY Space Online's Space Today
Aviation Week
Click below for a special NASA page celebrating this historic achievement.
NASA Apollo 11 Thirtieth Anniversary Home Page
Additional Apollo Program Links:
NASA-Langley Apollo Program Page
Please email me at marc.t.dinardo@lmco.comwith any comments or suggestions.
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