spacetoday.net: Rocket problem delays Aura launch

Posted: Wed, Jul 14, 2004, 10:51 AM ET (1451 GMT)
Aura spacecraft illustration (NASA)

For the second consecutive day, the launch of NASA's Aura earth sciences satellite was scrubbed shortly before the scheduled liftoff time, this time because of a glitch with the rocket. The countdown was stopped about three minutes before its scheduled 6:02 am EDT (1002 GMT) launch when controllers noticed low power levels from a battery on the booster’s second stage. The cause for the power drop was not immediately identified, but launch officials are hopeful that the problem can be resolved in time to permit another launch attempt at the same time Thursday. Tropical weather in the Pacific, though, may prevent NASA from deploying an aircraft used to monitor the flight of the vehicle's second stage.