spacetoday.net: Weather delays Delta launch

Posted: Sun, Jun 20, 2004, 11:46 AM ET (1546 GMT)
Delta 2 launch file photo (Boeing)

Stormy weather led controllers to delay the launch of a Delta 2 carrying a GPS satellite on Saturday night. The Delta 2 was scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral Saturday evening and place the Navstar GPS 2R-12 satellite into orbit. However, lightning storms in the area forced controllers to scrub the launch. The launch has been rescheduled for 7:06 pm EDT (2303 GMT) Sunday. However, forecasters are calling for an 80 percent chance of unacceptable weather on Sunday through Tuesday. The launch has already been delayed a number of time to correct technical problems with the rocket. Flight officials are under some pressure to get the launch off as soon as feasible, as the same pad will be used for the launch of NASA's MESSENGER mission to Mercury, which is scheduled to lift off on July 30.