(NASA) – Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report Mission: IBEX (Interstellar Boundary Explorer)
Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL (Orbital Sciences)
Launch Facility: Reagan Test Site, Kwajalein Pacific Atoll
Launch Date: Oct. 19, 2008
Launch Time: 2:58 p.m. – 3:06 p.m. EDT (06:58 a.m. – 07:06 a.m. local Kwajalein time)
The IBEX spacecraft, its upper stage booster and the Pegasus XL rocket are in the Orbital Sciences launch vehicle hangar at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
IBEX was attached to the Pegasus XL rocket on Tuesday, Sept. 23. A check of the critical systems of the spacecraft was performed on the spacecraft Thursday following mating with the launch vehicle.
The payload fairing will be installed around IBEX on Sept. 29. Arrival of the L-1011 is scheduled for Oct. 2, with the mate of the Pegasus rocket to the L-1011 scheduled for Oct. 6.
Departure of the L-1011 carrying the Pegasus XL rocket with IBEX from Vandenberg currently is planned for Oct. 10. After a stop in Hawaii, the flight will continue and arrive at the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific on Oct. 11.
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