spacetoday.net: Atlas launch of space science probes scrubbed

Posted: Fri, Aug 24, 2012, 7:24 AM ET (1124 GMT)
A problem with a tracking beacon scrubbed Friday morning's scheduled launch of an Atlas 5 rocket carrying a pair of NASA space science spacecraft. The Atlas 5 401 launch of the twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) was scheduled to take place at 4:07 am EDT (0807 GMT) Friday, but the launch was scrubbed a few minutes before launch because of a problem with a C-band tracking beacon on the rocket. Launch controllers said the frequency of the tracking beacon started to drift, which could affect its ability to be tracked by ground stations during ascent. The launch was postponed for 24 hours to allow time to investigate the problem, but the launch could be delayed further if the beacon needs to be replaced. The two RBSP spacecraft wil study the Van Allen radiation belts that surround the Earth.