NASA has completed the ground-based laser testing of the ICESat-2 satellite’s altimeter instrument at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.The completion of the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System‘s testing sets ICESat-2 for launch on Sept. 12., the space agency said Tuesday.
Previously, Northrop Grumman integrated the ATLAS with a spacecraft bus built to serve as the instrument’s source of power, navigation and communications.
The fully constructed satellite then arrived at Vandenberg on June 12 for testing of both the spacecraft and the instrument.
United Launch Alliance is putting together the Delta II rocket that will launch the satellite out of Earth, marking the rocket’s final mission.
