Athena launch delayed until weekend
Posted: Fri, Sep 28, 2001, 12:45 AM ET (0445 GMT)
The launch of an Athena rocket from Alaska has been pushed back until at least Saturday and may be delayed further depending on terrestrial and space weather conditions. A powerful solar flare Monday elevated the number of protons beyond the Earth's atmosphere to levels far higher than what the electronics on the Athena 1 booster are capable of handling. The proton flux peaked Tuesday and is declining, but may still remain too high through at least Friday and possibly through Saturday. The proton flux should subside by Sunday at the latest, but by then weather conditions at the Kodiak Launch Center in Alaska are expected to worsen. The launch has already been delayed more than a week because of weather, technical problems with a tracking radar, and transportation delays. The Athena 1 carries four spacecraft: the Starshine 3 satellite for NASA and three small spacecraft sponsored by the Defense Department.
The launch of an Athena rocket from Alaska has been pushed back until at least Saturday and may be delayed further depending on terrestrial and space weather conditions. A powerful solar flare Monday elevated the number of protons beyond the Earth's atmosphere to levels far higher than what the electronics on the Athena 1 booster are capable of handling. The proton flux peaked Tuesday and is declining, but may still remain too high through at least Friday and possibly through Saturday. The proton flux should subside by Sunday at the latest, but by then weather conditions at the Kodiak Launch Center in Alaska are expected to worsen. The launch has already been delayed more than a week because of weather, technical problems with a tracking radar, and transportation delays. The Athena 1 carries four spacecraft: the Starshine 3 satellite for NASA and three small spacecraft sponsored by the Defense Department.
Related Links:
| <<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
|
|
Monday, April 13
Blue Origin Targeting April 16 For New Glenn Flight 3
Aviation Week — 5:39 am ET (0939 GMT) SpaceX rocket launch overnight from Cape Canaveral: Everything to know
Florida Today — 5:38 am ET (0938 GMT) Will Korean investors get access to SpaceX IPO?
Korea Herald — 5:36 am ET (0936 GMT) Why Ukraine is considering space forces and how Russian Oreshnik factors in
RBC — 5:35 am ET (0935 GMT) It’s past time to get back to the task of human space exploration
Chicago Tribune — 5:34 am ET (0934 GMT) |
