Posted: Thu, Feb 9, 2006, 6:08 AM ET (1108 GMT)
The launch of a direct broadcasting satellite on a Zenit 3SL was scrubbed Wednesday evening because a problem with ground equipment. The multinational Sea Launch venture planned to launch the Echostar 10 satellite Wednesday night from its floating Odyssey launch platform on the Equator in the Pacific. However, the launch attempt was scrubbed because of what officials described as "an off-nominal indication from the Ground Support System." The problem does not affect either the launch vehicle or the satellite, which officials said are in "excellent" condition. The problem is being studied and no new launch attempt has been scheduled. The launch is the first of five to six missions Sea Launch is planning for 2006; the company said it has a full manifest of commercial launches through the next two years.
