spacetoday.net: space news from around the webin association with SpaceNews


Athena launch delayed until weekend
Posted: Fri, Sep 28, 2001, 12:45 AM ET (0445 GMT)
Kodiak Launch Complex (Alaska Aerospace) The launch of an Athena rocket from Alaska has been pushed back until at least Saturday and may be delayed further depending on terrestrial and space weather conditions. A powerful solar flare Monday elevated the number of protons beyond the Earth's atmosphere to levels far higher than what the electronics on the Athena 1 booster are capable of handling. The proton flux peaked Tuesday and is declining, but may still remain too high through at least Friday and possibly through Saturday. The proton flux should subside by Sunday at the latest, but by then weather conditions at the Kodiak Launch Center in Alaska are expected to worsen. The launch has already been delayed more than a week because of weather, technical problems with a tracking radar, and transportation delays. The Athena 1 carries four spacecraft: the Starshine 3 satellite for NASA and three small spacecraft sponsored by the Defense Department.
<<previous article   next article>>
news in brief
Starship explodes during preparations for static-fire test
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 6:52 AM ET (1052 GMT)

French government leads investment in Eutelsat
Posted: Sat, Jun 21 8:38 AM ET (1238 GMT)

NASA further delays Ax-4 launch
Posted: Sat, Jun 21 8:34 AM ET (1234 GMT)

news links
Saturday, July 5


about spacetoday.net   ·   info@spacetoday.net   ·   mailing list