Tue, Oct 27, 2009
Will Attempt Wednesday Launch
ANN Realtime Update:
10.27.2009 1200 EDT: The Ares I-X launch team is
preparing for a 24-hour turnaround, targeting 0800 on
Wednesday as liftoff time for the Ares I-X flight test vehicle.
Tuesday's attempt was plagued by weather issues, even though the
vehicle itself was ready to fly. After multiple attempts to reset
to new launch times during the 4-hour window, the final scrub came
when the weather did not improve as the end of the window neared.
Wednesday's weather improves somewhat, with a 40 percent
"no-go."
Wednesday's attempt will have the same 4-hour window that ends
at noon.
Original Story: As hard as they tried, the
weather would not cooperate with the Ares I-X launch team. They
have called a scrub for today and will make a determination
regarding an attempt for tomorrow.
The countdown held at T-4 minutes for over two hours, delayed
first by a cargo ship in the launch box, and later by increasing
winds. When the ship was first seen in the launch range, a
launch controller said "I don't want to see this delayed until
weather becomes a problem."
But weather became a problem. While clouds and a few showers
moved in over the launch complex, it was eventually sustained winds
of about 20 knots which eventually caused NASA to call a scrub.
Launch Test Director Jeff Spaulding instructed the launch team
to begin safing the vehicle and set up for a recycle of the
countdown.
"We had some opportunities, but just couldn't get there," Spaulding
said to the team. "Weather didn't cooperate."
The Ares 1-X team will make a determination later today about
trying again to launch on Wednesday.
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