CONTOUR cleared for Wednesday launch
Posted: Tue, Jul 2, 2002, 10:06 AM ET (1406 GMT)
Mission controllers gave the go-ahead Monday afternoon to launch NASA's CONTOUR spacecraft after a two-day delay. CONTOUR was scheduled to launch Monday morning on a Boeing Delta 2, but the launch was postponed on Friday, June 30, when dust was discovered on one of the spacecraft's solar panels. Mission managers said Monday that the dust was removed, and while they don’t know the origin or composition of the dust, they believe it should pose no problem to the mission. The launch is now scheduled for Wednesday, July 3, at 2:47 am EDT (0647 GMT). There is a 70 percent chance of acceptable weather for the launch, with the only major concern the possible development of thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon that could delay pre-launch preparations. CONTOUR, short for Comet Nucleus Tour, is a Discovery-class mission that will fly by the cores of two comets, Encke in 2003 and Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 in 2006. The launch window for CONTOUR remains open through July 25.
Mission controllers gave the go-ahead Monday afternoon to launch NASA's CONTOUR spacecraft after a two-day delay. CONTOUR was scheduled to launch Monday morning on a Boeing Delta 2, but the launch was postponed on Friday, June 30, when dust was discovered on one of the spacecraft's solar panels. Mission managers said Monday that the dust was removed, and while they don’t know the origin or composition of the dust, they believe it should pose no problem to the mission. The launch is now scheduled for Wednesday, July 3, at 2:47 am EDT (0647 GMT). There is a 70 percent chance of acceptable weather for the launch, with the only major concern the possible development of thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon that could delay pre-launch preparations. CONTOUR, short for Comet Nucleus Tour, is a Discovery-class mission that will fly by the cores of two comets, Encke in 2003 and Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 in 2006. The launch window for CONTOUR remains open through July 25.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Space Force picks 14 companies for GEO surveillance program
Posted: Sat, Apr 11 10:34 AM ET (1434 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, April 17
ESA and Canada sign agreement on the exchange of classified information
ESA — 7:11 am ET (1111 GMT) Canada, ESA Sign Security Information Accord
Aviation Week — 7:09 am ET (1109 GMT) Update: SPACECOM move, incentives
Axios — 7:07 am ET (1107 GMT) Colorado Springs still vital to military space industry, leaders say, even after Space Command move
Colorado Public Radio — 7:07 am ET (1107 GMT) Lockheed Martin Secures $105 Million U.S. Space Force Contract to Advance GPS Ground Control Modernization
Lockheed Martin — 7:06 am ET (1106 GMT) |
