Posted: Fri, Nov 15, 2002, 2:27 PM ET (1927 GMT)
Boeing announced Friday that the inaugural launch of its Delta 4 booster will be delayed at least three days because of an unspecified technical issue. The Delta 4 had been slated to lift off Saturday evening, November 16, carrying the Eutelsat W5 spacecraft. However, Boeing announced that the launch would be delayed until Tuesday, November 19 because of a "potential issue" with the vehicle. According to Spaceflight Now the issue appears to be with the RL-10 engine used on the Delta 4's upper stage. A Saturday launch had looked unlikely regardless of any vehicle problems, as meteorologists were forecasting only a 10 percent chance of acceptable weather for the launch. In addition, Eutelsat had requested that no launch attempts be made Sunday or Monday to avoid the peak of the Leonids meteor shower.

Related Links:

•  Boeing press release
•  Spaceflight Now launch status center