NASA's SMAP satellite launch called off again
Launch of a Delta 2 rocket carrying a NASA climate research satellite has been delayed to Saturday, at 9:20 a.m. EST, to give engineers time to repair damaged insulation.
A launch try Thursday was called off at the last minute because of high upper level winds. Mission managers initially targeted a second launch try Friday, but late Thursday rocket-builder United Launch Alliance and NASA announced the flight had slipped to Saturday.
"The launch of NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory has been delayed to a targeted launch date of Jan. 31, pending completion of minor repairs to the United Launch Alliance Delta II launch vehicle," NASA and ULA said in a statement. "During inspections following the Jan. 29 launch attempt, minor 'debonds' to the booster insulation were identified; a standard repair is being implemented."
