NASA Keeps Fingers Crossed for Wednesday Pegasus Launch
It is ironical that the launch of eight hurricane-monitoring satellites by NASA aboard the Pegasus rocket had to be aborted Monday not only because of a faulty component in the rocket's hydraulic system but also because of thick clouds and thunderstorms.
Click Orlando, reporting on the aborted launch, said that had NASA launched the satellites in such weather, it would have violated launch rules.
NASA was attempting to launch the $157 million Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System mission (CYGNSS) aboard the Orbital ATK's Pegasus XL rocket, which in turn was being carried on its host aircraft. The launch hit a snag when a pump in the system that releases latches holding the rocket developed a technical problem.
Orbital ATK, the company supplying the Pegasus XL rocket, is replacing the faulty component and readying for a Wednesday launch, as reported by TCpalm.
The company is hopeful of the launch as the launch crew would have had the needed rest. More importantly, the weather gods would be benevolent with 90 percent chance of favorable conditions and a one-hour launch window available Wednesday morning with launch time target set at 8:25 a.m.
NASA is taking the delay, the weather and the snag in its stride. "Obviously, you'd love to go on the first attempt," said Tim Dunn, the NASA launch director. "And while disappointing that we don't go today, it's part of our business. We're used to it."
The CYGNSS mission, anchored by University of Michigan scientists, involves the launch of eight microsatellites that would fly 315 miles over the tropics to help study the intensification of hurricanes. These microsatellites are expected to circle round the earth for two years to conduct their studies.
Satellites presently deployed are unable to receive signals in heavy rains hampering studies.
For the record, the air-launched Pegasus is flying for the first time since 2013, and the first time from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station since 2003.
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