Orion launch scrubbed
Posted: Thu, Dec 4, 2014, 2:58 PM ET (1958 GMT)
Gusty winds and a valve problem conspired to delay the launch of NASA's Orion spacecraft on its first test flight Thursday. The Delta 4 Heavy rocket was schedule to lift off from Cape Canaveral at 7:05 am EST (1205 GMT) and place an uncrewed Orion spacecraft into orbit for a brief test flight. However, winds that exceeded launch limits halted two countdown attempts in the first hour of a two-and-a-half-hour launch window. After winds subsided, a third countdown was halted a little more three minutes before liftoff when liquid hydrogen valves in two of the rocket's booster cores failed to close as planned. Officials said the valves may have frozen during the extended hold, and believe the problem can be corrected in time to make another launch attempt Friday at the same time. Weather is forecast to be less favorable on Friday, with only a 40% chance of acceptable conditions. Orion is scheduled to make two orbits of the Earth on the four-and-a-half-hour flight, testing its heat shield, electronics, and other components.
Gusty winds and a valve problem conspired to delay the launch of NASA's Orion spacecraft on its first test flight Thursday. The Delta 4 Heavy rocket was schedule to lift off from Cape Canaveral at 7:05 am EST (1205 GMT) and place an uncrewed Orion spacecraft into orbit for a brief test flight. However, winds that exceeded launch limits halted two countdown attempts in the first hour of a two-and-a-half-hour launch window. After winds subsided, a third countdown was halted a little more three minutes before liftoff when liquid hydrogen valves in two of the rocket's booster cores failed to close as planned. Officials said the valves may have frozen during the extended hold, and believe the problem can be corrected in time to make another launch attempt Friday at the same time. Weather is forecast to be less favorable on Friday, with only a 40% chance of acceptable conditions. Orion is scheduled to make two orbits of the Earth on the four-and-a-half-hour flight, testing its heat shield, electronics, and other components.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Retired Air Force officer nominated to be NASA deputy administrator
Posted: Sat, May 10 9:44 AM ET (1344 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, May 11
Spire Global Schedules First Quarter 2025 Results Conference Call
Spire — 4:15 pm ET (2015 GMT) NASA's Webb Lifts Veil on Common but Mysterious Type of Exoplanet
STScI — 9:50 am ET (1350 GMT) Northrop Grumman to Develop Additional Relay Ground Stations to Support US Space Force’s Next-Generation OPIR Program
Northrop Grumman — 9:50 am ET (1350 GMT) AAC Clyde Space wins EUR 570 000 order for power systems
AAC Clyde Space — 9:47 am ET (1347 GMT) Stratolaunch Successfully Completes Reusable Hypersonic Flight and Recovery with Talon-A2 Vehicle
Stratolaunch Systems — 9:46 am ET (1346 GMT) |
