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...

FMI: www.nasa.gov