spacetoday.net: Ground equipment problem delays Delta launch

Posted: Sun, Jan 12, 2003, 10:58 AM ET (1558 GMT)
A glitch with ground equipment scrubbed Saturday night's scheduled launch of a Delta 2 carrying two science spacecraft. The launch was scheduled to take place at 7:45 pm EST (0045 GMT Sunday) from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, but was scrubbed over 90 minutes before the scheduled liftoff because of a problem with a helium pressurization in ground support equipment. NASA and Boeing officials said they believe the problem could be repaired in time to make another launch attempt Sunday at 7:45 pm EST (0045 GMT Monday). The booster is carrying ICESat, a spacecraft that will measure the thickness of ice sheets as well as study topography and cloud structure. The Delta 2 will also launch CHIPSat, a small spacecraft designed to study hot interstellar plasmas.