Gentlefolk, This news came via the Antelopve Valley Astronomy Club. --Ad Astra, Gerald
--- Begin Message --- Vandenberg launch this evening - Look west around sunset.
- Tom
Delta 2
Jan. 12, 2003
4:45 to 5:30 p.m. PST
A commercial Boeing Delta 2 is to carry NASA's Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) and the Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer Satellite (CHIPSat).
Boeing makes second launch attempt
The problem that scrubbed Saturday's launch attempt has been fixed and the Boeing launch team is proceeding with a second launch attempt today at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
The Mobile Service Tower has been moved away from the rocket at Space Launch Complex 2W and mission managers will soon report to their consoles before fueling is expected to begin.
It was just before the RP-1 fuel was to be loaded on Saturday that engineers detected a problem with the helium pressurization system at the pad. A "Red Team" was sent out to the complex to fix the trouble, which was later determined to be a part of the ground support equipment -- not with the rocket.
Repairs could not be made in time to support the 45-minute launch window, so the shot was delayed to Sunday.
Weather is expected to be ideal today. An earlier forecast predicted a 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions.
--- End Message ---
