Delta II Launch Stalled a Second Time

Another technical glitch this morning has stalled NASA's second attempt to launch a national weather satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

A third attempt is scheduled Friday at 5:22 a.m. EST, pending a review this afternoon of weather and technical readiness.

NASA said an air conditioning compressor that cools the United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket's payload fairing prior to launch had failed.

"Though unlikely, the payload team needs additional time to be assured that an unacceptable level of hydrocarbons have not been introduced into the spacecraft environment within the fairing," a statement says.

This morning's planed 5:22 a.m. EST launch attempt was cancelled around midnight.

On Wednesday, a faulty relay card caused problems with the gaseous nitrogen pressurization system at Space Launch Complex-2.

Forecasts on Wednesday predicted a 40-percent chance of favorable launch conditions Friday, but those forecasts will be updated this afternoon.

A satellite owned and operated by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration rests atop the 12-story Delta II rocket.

The $564-million NOAA-N Pirme mission is designed to improve weather forecasting and search-and-rescue operations around the world.