NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report: E06-006

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ — The following is being issued by NASA:

   Mission: Space Technology 5 (ST5)   Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.   Launch Vehicle: Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL   Launch Date: Feb. 28, 2006   Launch Window: 8:57 to 10:19 a.m. EST   Targeted Drop Time: 9:02 a.m. EST   

Spacecraft closeouts are complete. The fairing was cleaned and inspected with a black light for any contamination. Quality control contamination samples were taken from the craft.

The right half of the fairing was installed Wednesday. Installation of the left half of the fairing was completed Thursday.

The Pegasus/ST5 combination will be mated to the transporter on Monday. Transportation to the runway for mating to the L-1011 carrier aircraft is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 24.

An integrated launch vehicle/spacecraft combined systems test and an ST5 state-of-health check is scheduled for Feb. 25.

   For previous status reports on the Web, visit:       http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/2006    For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit:                           http://www.nasa.gov/home  

First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact:

NASA

CONTACT: Katherine Trinidad of Headquarters, Washington,+1-202-358-3749, or George Diller of Kennedy Space Center, Fla.,+1-321-867-2468, both of NASA

Web site: http://www.nasa.gov/