Aquarius launch postponed a day
Posted: Thu, Jun 9, 2011, 7:52 AM ET (1152 GMT)
The launch of a new Earth sciences satellite has been delayed a day to correct a technical glitch with its rocket. The Delta 2 rocket was to launch Thursday morning from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and place the Aquarius/SAC-D satellite into orbit. Late Wednesday, though, United Launch Alliance postponed the launch 24 hours after finding an "inconsistency" in the flight profile used by the rocket's computer system to compensate for winds. The delay will give engineers time to determine why the profile wasn't properly loaded and confirm that there are no other issues with the flight control system. The satellite, a joint project of NASA and the Argentine space agency CONAE, will study ocean salinity and its link to global climate.
The launch of a new Earth sciences satellite has been delayed a day to correct a technical glitch with its rocket. The Delta 2 rocket was to launch Thursday morning from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and place the Aquarius/SAC-D satellite into orbit. Late Wednesday, though, United Launch Alliance postponed the launch 24 hours after finding an "inconsistency" in the flight profile used by the rocket's computer system to compensate for winds. The delay will give engineers time to determine why the profile wasn't properly loaded and confirm that there are no other issues with the flight control system. The satellite, a joint project of NASA and the Argentine space agency CONAE, will study ocean salinity and its link to global climate.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
FAA restricts hours for commercial launches during shutdown
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 9:05 AM ET (1405 GMT) China postpones Shenzhou-20 return on orbital debris concerns
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 8:58 AM ET (1358 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, November 13
Firefly Aerospace identifies cause of Alpha test anomaly
NasaSpaceFlight.com — 4:12 am ET (0912 GMT) Firefly Plans Alpha Pad Return For Lockheed Martin Demo By Early 2026
Aviation Week — 4:12 am ET (0912 GMT) Alpha launch expectations lift Firefly despite Q3 losses
Austin (TX) American-Statesman — 4:11 am ET (0911 GMT) The Bright Side: Scientists witness supernova's early stages for the first time
France 24 — 4:09 am ET (0909 GMT) France steps into the space race
Defence24 — 4:06 am ET (0906 GMT) |
