Delta 4 launch encountered upper-stage engine issue
Posted: Sun, Oct 7, 2012, 10:20 AM ET (1420 GMT)
United Launch Alliance (ULA) confirmed late Friday that there was a problem with the upper-stage engine during Thursday's launch of a GPS satellite on a Delta 4 rocket. According to ULA, launch controllers noticed an "unexpected data signature" in the performance of the RL10 engine that powers the Delta's upper stage. The unidentified problem caused reduced thrust levels from the engine, but the upper stage was still able to release its payload, the GPS 2F-3 satellite, into the proper orbit because of design margins and propellant reserves. ULA and the engine's manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, have created a team to investigate the anomaly. It's not clear yet if the issue will delay the launch in late October of an Atlas 5, which uses a different variant of the RL10 in its upper stage.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) confirmed late Friday that there was a problem with the upper-stage engine during Thursday's launch of a GPS satellite on a Delta 4 rocket. According to ULA, launch controllers noticed an "unexpected data signature" in the performance of the RL10 engine that powers the Delta's upper stage. The unidentified problem caused reduced thrust levels from the engine, but the upper stage was still able to release its payload, the GPS 2F-3 satellite, into the proper orbit because of design margins and propellant reserves. ULA and the engine's manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, have created a team to investigate the anomaly. It's not clear yet if the issue will delay the launch in late October of an Atlas 5, which uses a different variant of the RL10 in its upper stage.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, January 18
U.S. Support for Jennifer Warren for ITU Radio Regulation Board
US State Department — 7:13 pm ET (0013 GMT) Liechtenstein’s spectrum award to Open Cosmos propels Europe in the space telecommunications infrastructure race
Open Cosmos — 7:11 pm ET (0011 GMT) Expanding 5G connectivity with the Airbus UpNext SpaceRAN demonstrator
Airbus Group — 7:09 pm ET (0009 GMT) AccelerComm participates in Airbus UpNext SpaceRAN Demonstrator, Advancing Global 5G Connectivity in Space
AccelerComm — 7:07 pm ET (0007 GMT) Spacecoin Signs Strategic Agreements with Governments, Telcos, and Industry Partners to Advance Permissionless Connectivity
Medium — 7:05 pm ET (0005 GMT) |
