United Launch Alliance has pushed back the launch of a Delta IV heavy rocket and a national spy satellite by a day, to 6:06 p.m. Friday. During pad closeouts at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 37, engineers determined some explosive devices that are fired to release bolts holding the rocket to the pad did not meet required specifications.
The issue cropped up hours after a launch readiness review had given a "go" for the Thursday evening launch of the fourth Delta IV Heavy, carrying a classified National Reconnaissance Office payload.
New ordnance will be installed to allow the launch attempt 24 hours later.
The weather forecast remains excellent Friday, with a 90-percent chance of acceptable conditions for launch.
2 comments:
Apologies, the date is at the top. My bad. My face is red.
Maybe this new spy satillite will be able to detect unauthorized launches like the one last week off of Los Angles...oh, sorry, was that just an airplane?
Rick Steele
Sarasota, Florida
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