RL10 investigation delays X-37B launch
Posted: Mon, Oct 22, 2012, 6:07 AM ET (1007 GMT)
The ongoing investigation into a problem with an upper stage engine on a recent launch will delay the next launch of the military's secretive X-37B spaceplane until next month, United Launch Alliance announced late Friday. The Air Force had planned to launch the X-37B on the Orbital Test Vehicle 3 (OTV-3) mission this month on an Atlas 5 from Cape Canaveral. However, ULA said Friday it is delaying the launch while an investigation into a problem with the RL10 engine on a Delta 4 launch earlier this month continues. The launch did place its payload, a GPS satellite, successfully into orbit, but the RL10 experienced lower-than-normal chamber pressure. The Atlas 5 uses a different version of the RL10, but ULA said it and the Air Force decided to wait until a "thorough crossover assessment" of the issue could be completed. The launch is now planned for November 13.
The ongoing investigation into a problem with an upper stage engine on a recent launch will delay the next launch of the military's secretive X-37B spaceplane until next month, United Launch Alliance announced late Friday. The Air Force had planned to launch the X-37B on the Orbital Test Vehicle 3 (OTV-3) mission this month on an Atlas 5 from Cape Canaveral. However, ULA said Friday it is delaying the launch while an investigation into a problem with the RL10 engine on a Delta 4 launch earlier this month continues. The launch did place its payload, a GPS satellite, successfully into orbit, but the RL10 experienced lower-than-normal chamber pressure. The Atlas 5 uses a different version of the RL10, but ULA said it and the Air Force decided to wait until a "thorough crossover assessment" of the issue could be completed. The launch is now planned for November 13.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Friday, October 24
Cedar Park OKs $1 million in incentives to support Firefly Aerospace expansion, 300 new jobs
Austin (TX) American-Statesman — 7:45 am ET (1145 GMT) Defense giants Airbus, Thales and Leonardo announce space merger to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink
CNBC — 7:45 am ET (1145 GMT) Experts: US Needs Whole-of-Government Approach to Match China in Cislunar
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 7:42 am ET (1142 GMT) European defence giants strike satellite alliance to challenge Musk’s SpaceX
The Daily Telegraph — 7:41 am ET (1141 GMT) Debrief: Competition Intensifies Between China’s SpaceX Challengers
Aviation Week — 7:41 am ET (1141 GMT) |
