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News briefs: June 4
Posted: Wed, Jun 5, 2002, 8:52 AM ET (1252 GMT)
- NASA announced late Tuesday the official time for Wednesday's launch attempt of the shuttle Endeavour. The shuttle is scheduled to lift off at 5:22:48 pm EDT (2122:48 GMT), in the middle of a ten-minute launch window. Weather remains a major concern, with only a 40 percent chance of acceptable weather at launch time.
- Sea Launch is preparing for its first launch in over a year later this month. The floating launch platform and command vessel set sail from Long Beach recently in preparation for a June 15 launch of the Galaxy 3C communications satellite. The launch will be the first for the multinational effort since May of 2001. The satellite is also the first Boeing 702 model spacecraft to use "tried and true" solar panels; earlier 702 spacecraft used solar concentrators that are expected to degrade faster than planned.
- Aerospace company TRW announced plans Tuesday to spin off its automotive unit. The company filed papers with the SEC regarding the spinoff, which would take place by the end of the year. The spinoff is seen as an effort to reduce the company's debt and make the core aerospace portion of the company more attractive to potential suitors.
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