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
|
|
Report outlines cost growth in canceled NASA exploration programs
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:14 AM ET (1514 GMT) Perseverance Mars rover finds more potential biosignatures
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:12 AM ET (1512 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, June 30
Starlink’s Architects Launch Eclipse to Open the Megaconstellation Era to New Players
Business Wire — 6:31 am ET (1031 GMT) Rocket Lab buys Iridium in $8 billion deal to take on SpaceX
Reuters — 6:25 am ET (1025 GMT) Rocket Lab CEO vows commitment to aero as firm buys Iridium
Runway Girl Network — 6:21 am ET (1021 GMT) Rocket Lab expands space biz with $8 billion deal
Axios — 6:21 am ET (1021 GMT) Rocket Lab to acquire satellite firm Iridium
Radio New Zealand — 6:21 am ET (1021 GMT) |
