spacetoday.net: GOES launch delayed

Posted: Tue, Aug 16, 2005, 8:35 AM ET (1235 GMT)
GOES-N illustration (Boeing)

A weather satellite scheduled for launch Monday was delayed 24 hours because of a faulty pressure reading on its Delta 4 booster. The Delta 4 was scheduled to lift off at 6:32 pm EDT (2232 GMT) Monday evening to place the GOES-N satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit. However, controllers scrubbed the launch after sensors indicated low pressure levels in helium bottles that pressurize the propulsion system on the rocket's second stage. Engineers later concluded that the pressurization system is fine, and reset the launch for the same time Tuesday. If the launch does not take place Tuesday NASA may elect to delay the launch until early October to avoid having the satellite undergo the "eclipse period" encountered by GEO satellites during the autumnal equinox while the spacecraft is in its critical on-orbit checkout phase.