WISE launch rescheduled for December 14
The mission will uncover the coolest stars, dark asteroids, and the most luminous galaxies.
Provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
Published:
December 11, 2009 NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer has been wrapped in the outer nose cone, or "fairing," that will protect it during its launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
Photo by NASA/VAFB
The launch of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission is now rescheduled for December 14, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in central California, with a launch window of 9:09 a.m. to 9:23 a.m. EST. The first launch attempt scheduled for December 11 was delayed due to an anomaly in the motion of a booster steering engine.
Mission managers have implemented a plan to completely resolve the anomaly. This plan includes removing and replacing a suspect component December 11, allowing the Delta II to be ready for Monday's launch attempt. The current weather forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of acceptable weather during the launch window.
WISE will circle Earth over the poles, scanning the entire sky one-and-a-half times in 9 months. The mission will uncover hidden cosmic objects, including the coolest stars, dark asteroids, and the most luminous galaxies.
|