| 
 Delta 4 test-fires engine 
Posted: Tue, Oct 15, 2002, 9:07 AM ET (1307 GMT)  
The first Delta 4 launch vehicle successfully test-fired its main engine for several seconds Monday afternoon.  During the "hot-fire" test, a launch countdown was simulated and the booster's RS-68 main engine was ignited at T-3.5 seconds.  The engine fired at full thrust  2,900 kilonewtons  before being shut down shortly after T-0 seconds.  Boeing officials pronounced the test, the final milestone before the inaugural flight, a success.  The first Delta 4 launch, using the same vehicle tested on pad 37B Monday, is scheduled for mid-November.  That launch will carry the Eutelsat W5 spacecraft into orbit.
Related Links:
 
  | 
  | 
| 
 about spacetoday.net · info@spacetoday.net · mailing list  |