US weather satellite launch deferred
The launch of a rocket carrying US weather satellite from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base was delayed due to technical reasons
Caption: The Delta II rocket and NOAA-N Prime spacecraft on the launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Photo credit: Carleton Bailie/United Launch Alliance
CALIFORNIA (BNS): The scheduled launch of a rocket carrying the US weather satellite from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base has been rescheduled for Thursday due to technical reasons.
The NOAA-N Prime satellite was scheduled to be launched aboard a Delta 2 rocket early Wednesday, but the mission was put off after a problem with gaseous nitrogen system, which is used to pressurise the liquid oxygen tank and control systems was detected.
The launch is expected to be the last in a series of polar-orbiting satellites that have been observing Earth's weather since 1960. NOAA-N Prime has sensors that will be used in the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking System to monitor for distress signals around the world.
However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which manages the $ 564 million mission, did not immediately say when the launch would take place.
The weather office has predicted rains from Thursday till the weekend which could pose some problems.
The NOAA-N Prime satellite was scheduled to be launched aboard a Delta 2 rocket early Wednesday, but the mission was put off after a problem with gaseous nitrogen system, which is used to pressurise the liquid oxygen tank and control systems was detected.
The launch is expected to be the last in a series of polar-orbiting satellites that have been observing Earth's weather since 1960. NOAA-N Prime has sensors that will be used in the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking System to monitor for distress signals around the world.
However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which manages the $ 564 million mission, did not immediately say when the launch would take place.
The weather office has predicted rains from Thursday till the weekend which could pose some problems.
