Delta 2 launches GRAIL spacecraft
Posted: Sat, Sep 10, 2011, 12:56 PM ET (1656 GMT)
A Delta 2 rocket successfully launched a pair of NASA spacecraft that will study the Moon's interior. The Delta 2 7920H lifted off from Launch Complex 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, at 9:08 am EDT (1308 GMT) during the second of two one-second launch windows available Saturday. The rocket's upper stage deployed the twin Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft a little over an hour after liftoff. The two spacecraft will enter orbit around the Moon in four months, where they will map the Moon's gravity field to far higher precision than before, yielding new information about the Moon's interior. A launch attempt Thursday was scrubbed by high-level winds, while technical issues postponed Friday's launch attempt. The launch is the last scheduled Delta 2 launch from Cape Canaveral; one more Delta 2 is slated for launch next month from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
A Delta 2 rocket successfully launched a pair of NASA spacecraft that will study the Moon's interior. The Delta 2 7920H lifted off from Launch Complex 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, at 9:08 am EDT (1308 GMT) during the second of two one-second launch windows available Saturday. The rocket's upper stage deployed the twin Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft a little over an hour after liftoff. The two spacecraft will enter orbit around the Moon in four months, where they will map the Moon's gravity field to far higher precision than before, yielding new information about the Moon's interior. A launch attempt Thursday was scrubbed by high-level winds, while technical issues postponed Friday's launch attempt. The launch is the last scheduled Delta 2 launch from Cape Canaveral; one more Delta 2 is slated for launch next month from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.| <<previous article | next article>> |
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Thursday, December 4
Starlink launches in Korea with focus on ships, planes
Korea Herald — 6:16 am ET (1116 GMT) Starlink unveils internet plans for Korea, announces supply agreements with three enterprises
JoongAng Daily — 6:15 am ET (1115 GMT) Starlink launches service in South Korea, offers residential plan at 87,000 won
Chosun Ilbo — 6:15 am ET (1115 GMT) Second SpaceX launch this week to liftoff Thursday morning from Vandenberg SFB
Lompoc Record — 6:14 am ET (1114 GMT) SpaceX set to launch Falcon 9 rocket at Vandenberg Space Force Base on Thursday
KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo, CA — 6:13 am ET (1113 GMT) |
