Pluto launch postponed again
Posted: Wed, Jan 18, 2006, 2:03 PM ET (1903 GMT)
The launch of NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto was delayed Wednesday for the second day in a row, this time because of problems at the spacecraft's control center. Severe storms overnight knocked out power to the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Maryland, which serves as the spacecraft control center for the mission. While the center does have some backup power, project officials did not feel comfortable with launching the mission without a robust power supply for the control center. The launch has been tentatively rescheduled for Thursday at 1:08 pm EST (1808 GMT); a decision to proceed with that launch attempt will be made by late Wednesday afternoon, based on the status of power at APL. Tuesday's initial launch attempt was scrubbed by high winds at Cape Canaveral. Forecasts call for an 80-percent chance of acceptable weather for a Thursday launch attempt.
The launch of NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto was delayed Wednesday for the second day in a row, this time because of problems at the spacecraft's control center. Severe storms overnight knocked out power to the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Maryland, which serves as the spacecraft control center for the mission. While the center does have some backup power, project officials did not feel comfortable with launching the mission without a robust power supply for the control center. The launch has been tentatively rescheduled for Thursday at 1:08 pm EST (1808 GMT); a decision to proceed with that launch attempt will be made by late Wednesday afternoon, based on the status of power at APL. Tuesday's initial launch attempt was scrubbed by high winds at Cape Canaveral. Forecasts call for an 80-percent chance of acceptable weather for a Thursday launch attempt.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Space Force picks 14 companies for GEO surveillance program
Posted: Sat, Apr 11 10:34 AM ET (1434 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, April 23
Firefly Aerospace moves into 3 new buildings in Cedar Park
KVUE-TV Austin, TX — 4:24 am ET (0824 GMT) ESA Formalizes European Defense Agency Links
Aviation Week — 4:23 am ET (0823 GMT) Plato aces space-like tests
ESA — 4:23 am ET (0823 GMT) In ‘major win’ for Alabama, $565 million set aside for Space Command design, construction
Huntsville Times — 4:22 am ET (0822 GMT) Trump taps defense firm execs to lead space acquisition, NRO
Breaking Defense — 4:19 am ET (0819 GMT) |
