This week's planned launch of a Delta IV rocket and weather satellite has slipped another day, to Thursday evening. The new launch window is 6:17 p.m. to 7:17 p.m.
United Launch Alliance said inspections Sunday revealed that a fueling line needed to be replaced.
The $499-million National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration mission called GOES-P had been scheduled for launch Tuesday.
But on Saturday, ULA discovered a faulty steering valve on one of the rocket's solid-fueled boosters needed replacing, pushing the launch back to Wednesday. Replacement of the quick disconnect line that will flow liquid hydrogen to the rocket adds another day.
The most recent Air Force forecast looks good for Thursday, with an 80-percent chance of favorable weather conditions at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 37.
GOES-P is the third and last in a series of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites developed by NASA for NOAA.
You can read more about the mission and ULA quality engineer Jim McMillian in today's Florida Today. Click HERE for the story by Michelle Spitzer.
IMAGE: On Feb. 14, workers installed NASA's GOES-P meteorological satellite onto the Delta IV stages already in place in the mobile service tower at Launch Complex 37 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. GOES-P, the latest Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, was developed by NASA for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA. GOES-P is designed to watch for storm development and observed current weather conditions on Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
1 comment:
For what they cost you would think the steering valve would work right out of the box.
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