Thu, Apr 27, 2006
Temp Sensor Anomaly Pushes Launch To Friday
To quote Charles
Schulz's erstwhile but oft-put-upon protagonist, Charlie Brown:
good grief. That may to best sum up the sentiment at NASA these
days, as the agency had to once again delay the launch of the
CloudSat and CALIPSO satellites Thursday morning, this time due to
errant readings from a temperature sensor onboard the Boeing Delta
II launch vehicle.
It's the sixth straight delay for the mission's launch from
California's Vandenburg Air Force Base. NASA reports that engineers
and mission managers are currently assessing the suspect sensor on
the rocket's second stage... and that it may require replacement.
It's unclear how such a replacement would impact the new launch
time for the rocket -- which is now set for Friday, April 28, at
6:02 am EDT.
NASA has been trying to launch the two satellites since April
21, but those launches have been delayed by, in order: a
communications glitch between mission controllers in the US and
France; lack of an available refueling aircraft for a C-130 radar
tracking plane (twice); weather (twice); and now, by the sensor
anomaly.
Once they're in orbit, the CloudSat and CALIPSO satellites have
an important mission. They'll both examine the formation of clouds
and weather patterns. Scientists hope to gain a better
understanding of rain patterns and the origins of weather.
To continue the Charlie Brown analogy, if only Lucy would stop
moving the football at the last minute...
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