Satellite glitch delays Ariane 5 launch
Posted: Wed, Apr 9, 2003, 8:38 AM ET (1238 GMT)
A last-minute payload problem delayed Tuesday night's scheduled launch of an Ariane 5 for at least one day. The Ariane 5G was scheduled to launch Tuesday evening to place the Galaxy 12 and Insat 3A satellites into orbit, but Arianespace announced Tuesday afternoon that the launch would be delayed because of an unspecified issue with one of the satellites. Arianespace didn't identify the satellite with the problem, but media reports indicated the glitch was with the Insat 3A spacecraft, operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation; PanAmSat officials said there were no problems with its Galaxy 12 spacecraft. Arianespace plans to announce Wednesday whether it will be able to launch on Wednesday or if a further delay will be required. The launch would be the first for the Ariane 5 since the December failure of the inaugural launch of the upgraded Ariane 5 ECA booster. The ECA version is not expected to return to flight until 2004 as problems with its Vulcain-2 main engine are corrected.
A last-minute payload problem delayed Tuesday night's scheduled launch of an Ariane 5 for at least one day. The Ariane 5G was scheduled to launch Tuesday evening to place the Galaxy 12 and Insat 3A satellites into orbit, but Arianespace announced Tuesday afternoon that the launch would be delayed because of an unspecified issue with one of the satellites. Arianespace didn't identify the satellite with the problem, but media reports indicated the glitch was with the Insat 3A spacecraft, operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation; PanAmSat officials said there were no problems with its Galaxy 12 spacecraft. Arianespace plans to announce Wednesday whether it will be able to launch on Wednesday or if a further delay will be required. The launch would be the first for the Ariane 5 since the December failure of the inaugural launch of the upgraded Ariane 5 ECA booster. The ECA version is not expected to return to flight until 2004 as problems with its Vulcain-2 main engine are corrected.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Blue Origin announces new upper stage and engine for New Glenn
Posted: Sat, Nov 7 12:07 PM ET (1707 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, November 9
NASA Updates Moon Base Plan Spanning Rover to Rides
Aviation Week — 4:49 am ET (0949 GMT) Korea to spur private launchers and LEO network in SpaceX-style push
Chosun Ilbo — 4:44 am ET (0944 GMT) As SpaceX gets cheaper, are India’s rockets taking different flight paths?
livemint — 4:44 am ET (0944 GMT) SpaceX Falcon 9 launch planned for Monday evening out of Vandenberg SFB
KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo, CA — 4:43 am ET (0943 GMT) Will China’s slow and steady moon landing plan be a safer bet than the US’?
South China Morning Post — 4:43 am ET (0943 GMT) |
